Everyone has a figurative “happy place” for when times are tough.
For children battling childhood cancer, the practice of “going to your happy place” is not just a cute phrase, it’s a coping mechanism that Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta oncology teams encourage their young patients to use during uncomfortable and difficult procedures.
September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and in the weeks leading up to it, Children’s asked five of their cancer patients to describe their unique happy places. The patients responded, sharing the puppies, unicorns with soft horns and walrus wizards that exist in their happy places. Wheelchairs, grief and baldness don’t exist in these places.
A photographer and illustrator helped bring their visions to life in an imaginative photo series and video. The photographs were taken by Aaron Coury Photography. Designers at Matchstic, a branding agency in Atlanta, assisted with the imaginative illustrations. The video can be seen on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCWVf5VFweY.
Here are excerpts from the series:
Mya’s Happy Place: Rio de Janiero
While running at school this past February, 11-year-old Mya Fuller of Conyers felt a pop in her knee that ultimately led to a diagnosis of osteosarcoma, or bone cancer. After countless doctor visits, MRIs, X-rays and chemotherapy treatments, Mya underwent a procedure called rotationplasty, which resulted in amputation of her leg just above the knee. Mya’s happy place is a sunny spot in Rio de Janeiro, where she can feel the ocean breeze and sun on her face. The iconic Christ the Redeemer statue is always visible, showing “Jesus with his hands out — I really like that part of it.”
Hunter’s Happy Place: A Land of Dolphin Rides and Walrus Wizards
Last year, 13-year-old Hunter Landrum of Dallas was diagnosed with a brain tumor that turned into brain cancer. Since then, he’s been through many rounds of chemotherapy, radiation, brain surgery, inpatient rehab and several stints in the pediatric intensive care unit. In his happy place, a walrus wizard uses his magic to make pandas fly and dolphins hover above water. All the animals live in harmony and he sees every color imaginable. Instead of a wheelchair, Hunter rides a dolphin in his happy place.
Lauren’s Happy Place: Where Everything is Sparkly
After years of CT scans, long hospital stays and difficult chemotherapy, the atypical territorial rhabdoid tumor in Lauren’s brain is gone. The 11-year-old is now cancer free. For Lauren Morris, of Cumming that place is a world where “everything is sparkly.” She can lay and smell the flowers, play with an overabundance of Barbies and pet free roaming unicorns. Not your regular unicorns, though. The unicorns in Lauren’s land have soft, rounded horns that make it easier for them to play with herds of puppies.
Justice’s Happy Place: Animal-Filled Picnic in Italy
On Thanksgiving Day 2013, 16-year-old Justice Root of Conyers, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Justice’s happy place is in the countryside of Italy, where she sees a beautiful castle ahead. Its fall and she can smell the crispness of the air. She feels the breeze from the ocean and can taste the saltwater. Her happy place has LOTS of Italian food. Going there reminds her that “just because I’ve been dealt this hand doesn’t mean I’m going to quit the game. I have to keep playing.”
Alex’s Happy Place: Home
Alex Richards was 4 years old when he was first diagnosed with T-cell leukemia. For three and a half years, Alex went through chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, numerous spinal taps and bone marrow aspirates. Four years later, Alex is finally cancer free.
Through his cancer battle, Alex spent many long stints in the hospital. When asked what his happy place is, Alex had a simple answer: “Home.”
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