© 2005-2012 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). All rights reserved worldwide.
Valerie Tan, Family Member, Various Cancer Types
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
In the past year, artist and caregiver Valerie Tan has lost her father to cancer and moved her handicapped mother who has non-curable lymphoma to live with her and her family. Several years prior, she lost her dear father in law to lung cancer. Through it all, Valerie finds art to be uplifting and therapeutic.
Her painting Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!, featured in December in the 2011-2012 Expressions of Hope calendar, is inspired by her husband and parents' hometown, one of the snowiest places in the US—Buffalo, New York.
“The painting is a happy memory of growing up playing in the snow, looking at the picturesque view out the window while enjoying hot cocoa, and excitedly awaiting family holiday festivities,” she says. “When someone is sick and battling cancer, it is often these memories that we cling to, reminding us of the wonderful times we enjoyed when everyone was healthy and as something to look forward to enjoy and hope for ahead of us.”
More information about the Expressions of Hope calendar is available at www.cancer.net/expressionsofhope.