Silvia and her ‘palliative artwork’ cart, an ’emotional treatment’ for hospitalized sufferers with superior ailments


Palliative Art is a basis that has helped greater than 6,000 individuals since 2016 and has been acknowledged with the 2023 Princess of Girona Social Award. Martina’s mom, who died on the age of 8, remembers the classes that marked her little woman: “She modified the world of my daughter within the hospital” Volunteers assist from portray, stitching or making sculptures to getting ready a farewell letter for family

“Silvia modified my daughter’s world within the hospital.” This is how a mom remembers the influence that the founding father of Palliative Art had on the lifetime of her daughter whereas she was preventing most cancers on the age of seven in Sant Joan de Déu. A remedy that has helped greater than 6,000 sufferers with superior ailments to scale back emotional ache via artwork.

From portray, stitching or making sculptures to getting ready a farewell letter for family. Ways of expressing emotions which have awarded the Catalan social educator with the 2023 Princess of Girona Social Award.

What began as a software to assist her sister, with an undiagnosed uncommon illness that allowed her to speak together with her with out phrases, Silvia Fernández took it a step additional in 2016 with the creation of a “distinctive” service in every session. “We go together with a cart, just like the one utilized by the nurses who carry all the medication, however filled with supplies as a result of we deal with the particular person’s pursuits. It is a second the place the particular person can select.”

Patients, no matter age and sickness, select their inventive path through which they categorical their feelings. “It is an area to select from, in contrast to life in a hospital, the place you don’t determine what to eat, when to bathe or whether or not or to not take the medicine. On the opposite hand, you’ll be able to choose what shade to make use of, method and who to provide it to,” Silvia acknowledges, the guts of a basis that served 2,500 individuals in 2022.

The classes have a that means for every of the attendees: “It is usually a second of leisure, of not fascinated about the state of affairs, whereas for others it permits them to deepen and categorical feelings which are typically tough to specific in phrases.”

“A affected person was reluctant to attend the classes. After a month he requested us to jot down a farewell letter to his family. We welcome all feelings, there shall be some that shall be offended, others unhappy or joyful. There may be something, the vital factor is to validate every considered one of them”.

Inspiration from a liked one

Silvia’s sister is 34 years outdated and suffers from a uncommon illness with out analysis. The recreation, artwork or music helped her handle her feelings, talk and perceive herself with different individuals with out the usage of phrases.

This is how the muse was born, with the intention of accompanying sufferers of their “social, emotional and non secular dimension” with particular person and group classes. This was the case of little Martina, who died on the age of 8 after preventing leukemia. “We have been locked up for six months, she had most cancers and at first she did not speak to anybody,” remembers her mom a couple of time that the founding father of Palliative Art made extra nice together with her classes.

Martina disguised as Mario Bros in one of many classes. Artepaliativo

“Silvia appeared and she or he was one other woman since she met her. She solely needed the times that she got here to reach.” An indelible mark on Alicia’s coronary heart, excited to recollect the therapies that helped her daughter categorical her emotions. “The nurses requested her what she needed to be when she grew up and she or he mentioned that she can be an administrator, ‘like my mother, who strikes papers’. Although sooner or later she mentioned that she needed to be like Silvia and assist kids who’re sick “.

The reflection reached the guts of the present Princess of Girona Social 2023. “She all the time informed me that Martina was the one woman who actually understood what what they did meant, since they strategy artwork to not make a drawing, however to the sick, whether or not younger or outdated, categorical their emotions at that second”, he concludes.

One of MartinaCedida’s drawings

The remedy allowed them to spend “countless hours” in a hospital. In her case, the little woman’s ardour was drawing seashores. “It was the place she needed to be.” Precisely, the social educator’s human worth and willingness to assist are “unforgettable” indicators for relations.

“When I used to be present process a transplant, they could not put materials within the room and all the things needed to be new. Silvia would deliver him to make a portray, typically one thing to color a cup. He all the time drew very stunning issues that I’ve framed at dwelling and joyful, “he concludes. Alicia, moved by the “deserved” award for Palliative Art. “It’s like a small household. You simply should see the love that they do all the things and the love that they put into it. The phrases and the love that he gave off… It’s wonderful how he handled my daughter.”

area for freedom

The entity works each in hospitals, residences and houses. They started the mission on the Terrassa Hospital, continued to develop it on the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, the Pediatric Cancer Center and the Casa de Sofía Hospital, amongst others, and are presently present process a pilot check on the Niño de Jesús Hospital.

But there’s additionally a spot for many who don’t need to take part, the muse stresses the significance of “no” and the legitimate possibility of “doing nothing”. This is the case of a affected person, who was reluctant to take part within the conferences till his fourth week arrived.

sensory integration

Silvia gives every kind of examples of inventive creations that totally different sufferers have made throughout these seven years. “I bear in mind a case of a lady who misplaced her imaginative and prescient as a result of most cancers and was very afraid as a result of each time we entered the room she didn’t know who we have been. Being capable of work, via artwork, permits us to work from sounds or smooth textures. Stimulate the opposite senses you could seize,” he remembers.

“It was very stunning as a result of it was a affected person who gave the impression to be on the finish of her life and ultimately she recovered. Later her imaginative and prescient drawback was not an obstacle in any respect. On the opposite, she made spectacular creations resembling a diamond crown that she sewed. It was very stunning”, says Silvia, who has been decisive for sufferers like Martina.

Martina with considered one of her inventive creations.Artepaliativo

The treasured badge, in recognition of his emblematic work to alleviate struggling via artwork, shall be delivered the primary week of July. An award for a way of communication that escapes phrases.