“Step up to the sunset”
Vanessa Cahee
San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Survivor
Twist on Cancer:
When I was diagnosed, I was in the best shape of my life and very focused on my career. I commuted over 3 hours a day, worked long hours, and was driven to climb the corporate ladder. Then cancer stopped me in my tracks and forced me to focus on ME.
Surgeries and treatment were humbling. Seeing some friends, family and colleagues disappear during my toughest time was humbling. Cancer revealed my true circle, the friends and family I could lean on, that my husband was my rock, my children were my motivation, and that at work, I was replaceable.
Seven years later, cancer is still a dark cloud. It doesn’t hover as closely, but it lingers, reminding me it could storm again one day. The emotions a survivor carries are indescribable.
However, cancer has made me stronger, a risk taker, and someone who appreciates TIME, the warm sun, and making memories with family and friends. It gave me the motivation to start my own company, work on my passion projects, and prioritize ME.
Deborah Katz
Philadelphia, PA
@Deborah_katz_art
“Step up to the sunset”
Acrylic paint on canvas
30” x 24” x 1”
$600
Artist Statement: From our very first conversation, Vanessa and I connected easily. We were successful career women, mothers in awe of our children, travelers, and part of vibrant communities of friends and family.
At this stage in my life, I can’t fully comprehend what Vanessa endured, but because our lives were so alike, I understood what she was fighting for. Her strength and determination were clear in the beautiful life she built.
When we began this Brushes with Cancer journey, I had just returned to painting after two decades. Vanessa inspired me to step out of my comfort zone and became part of my journey as an artist.
As an artist, I try to capture awe moments that are as grand as life and as enduring as love and strength. I asked Vanessa to share her own awe-filled moments.
One image stood out: her daughter launching a softball into the sky as the field froze in admiration. I had played softball too, and knew the courage it takes to step up to the plate, and the joy of hitting the ball. As everyone paused to watch her swing beneath a sky painted by Mother Nature, the entire scene gave me a profound moment of awe. It embodied female strength and the ability to step up to the moment.