Shane Doherty and Annie Arnold
The Story
Shane Doherty
Philadelphia, PA
Caregiver
Twist on Cancer: My father's cancer diagnosis changed my life forever. He was and will always be my best friend and hero. Throughout his diagnosis, he sacrificed so much for one more second with all of us. Even in his time in hospice, he prioritized our comfort over his own. Since his death, my whole family has found ourselves lost, battling against the waves of emotions flowing through our lives. There was so much anger; I felt so much resistance to process all of the feelings. My dad had a way of reassuring us all about anything we did. He was not one to tell me what to do, but every decision felt secure, knowing he had my back. I've lost that security - every choice I make without him feels uneasy. Each new endeavor I make in my life is one that he knows nothing about. Every second, minute, day, month, and year that goes by, he feels further and further away. As time has gone on, I have allowed myself to grieve. Rather than swim against it, I let the waves rock me as they come. When I open myself up to what I once resisted, I am overcome by his love for our whole family. By allowing myself to flow into the dark, I have found the light that still shines from my dad's legacy. It will never be a replacement, but the light I find is the love we all continue to share with him. I have found that grief is a gift that keeps us connected when we allow ourselves to be open to all the feelings that come with it. So often, it feels like my life can be divided into my time with my dad and what has come after. When I don't shy away from the pain that comes from grief, I am gifted with a window to peer back to the life I had with him, a life I miss every day. I know that I will not move on. Through grief, however, I can move forward, always connected to my hero.
Caregiver
Twist on Cancer: My father's cancer diagnosis changed my life forever. He was and will always be my best friend and hero. Throughout his diagnosis, he sacrificed so much for one more second with all of us. Even in his time in hospice, he prioritized our comfort over his own. Since his death, my whole family has found ourselves lost, battling against the waves of emotions flowing through our lives. There was so much anger; I felt so much resistance to process all of the feelings. My dad had a way of reassuring us all about anything we did. He was not one to tell me what to do, but every decision felt secure, knowing he had my back. I've lost that security - every choice I make without him feels uneasy. Each new endeavor I make in my life is one that he knows nothing about. Every second, minute, day, month, and year that goes by, he feels further and further away. As time has gone on, I have allowed myself to grieve. Rather than swim against it, I let the waves rock me as they come. When I open myself up to what I once resisted, I am overcome by his love for our whole family. By allowing myself to flow into the dark, I have found the light that still shines from my dad's legacy. It will never be a replacement, but the light I find is the love we all continue to share with him. I have found that grief is a gift that keeps us connected when we allow ourselves to be open to all the feelings that come with it. So often, it feels like my life can be divided into my time with my dad and what has come after. When I don't shy away from the pain that comes from grief, I am gifted with a window to peer back to the life I had with him, a life I miss every day. I know that I will not move on. Through grief, however, I can move forward, always connected to my hero.
Annie Arnold
Annie Arnold
Wapello, Iowa
@annie.ollivander
“Atlas Moon”
Acrylic pour painting on canvas
24” x 30” x 1.5”
$720
Artist Statement: Although this painting may have a darker tone, don’t let it fool you. This is a representation of love, self-sacrifice, and the light and dark associated with grief. During my time with Shane, I was inspired by his willingness to embrace both the pain and love that he has felt since his father’s cancer diagnosis and passing. We spoke often about how we all can relate to loss and how that loss can transform into resilience, connection, and hope. During these conversations, I had this image of a bright, clear moon in a dark sky – the kind of moon so luminescent that it could replicate the robust spirit Shane’s father had. To honor the day of his passing, the moon in the image is the same moon that was shown in the sky that evening. The moth symbolizes transformation and rebirth and the importance of embracing change. Moths can also remind us to trust our transformational process and seek the light in dark places. They can teach us to move in cycles and embrace the unique energy of each season. The Atlas moth, in particular, is known for its self-sacrificing nature. Named after the titan of the same name, condemned by Zeus to hold up the sky, it embodies strength and perseverance. And if you look deep in the woods, you will see the silhouette of a buck to represent Shane’s ancestry and the love passed down from father to son.
Wapello, Iowa
@annie.ollivander
“Atlas Moon”
Acrylic pour painting on canvas
24” x 30” x 1.5”
$720
Artist Statement: Although this painting may have a darker tone, don’t let it fool you. This is a representation of love, self-sacrifice, and the light and dark associated with grief. During my time with Shane, I was inspired by his willingness to embrace both the pain and love that he has felt since his father’s cancer diagnosis and passing. We spoke often about how we all can relate to loss and how that loss can transform into resilience, connection, and hope. During these conversations, I had this image of a bright, clear moon in a dark sky – the kind of moon so luminescent that it could replicate the robust spirit Shane’s father had. To honor the day of his passing, the moon in the image is the same moon that was shown in the sky that evening. The moth symbolizes transformation and rebirth and the importance of embracing change. Moths can also remind us to trust our transformational process and seek the light in dark places. They can teach us to move in cycles and embrace the unique energy of each season. The Atlas moth, in particular, is known for its self-sacrificing nature. Named after the titan of the same name, condemned by Zeus to hold up the sky, it embodies strength and perseverance. And if you look deep in the woods, you will see the silhouette of a buck to represent Shane’s ancestry and the love passed down from father to son.