Objet of Gratitude

Dear Dr. Poen

You and your team cured my cancer 14 years ago. Since then, I walked my daughter down the aisle, have spent quality time with my grandson for the past three years, celebrated our 55th anniversary, published two books, and taught five more years at Stanford. Not a day has gone by without gratitude for my continued existence. When people ask how I am, I answer: "Couldn't be better!"

So I made this small objet with you in mind. I know that a gift of art is often an imposition. Please feel free to use it as a paperweight, put it on a shelf, give it to the staff, leave it in the waiting room, regift it. Whenever you see it, I hope you are reminded of the life and love that you and your team make possible.

I don't know if you know this story, but when I was undergoing daily radiation treatments, the radiology crew remarked on my painted shoes, so I gave them a link to some of my art online. The next day, I was pleasantly surprised to see that they were using one of my paintings as a screensaver on several computers in the control room:

So I gave them the original painting, which they hung in the control room. Then they told me that the inspector told them they couldn't hang art in the control room, so they hung it in the treatment room. A few years ago, a friend of mine was treated in your facility and he told me that the painting was still there! 

So....thank you. I know you must have some hard days. But your wins mean so much.