It’s not often that someone is truly moved by a newspaper article. It’s even rarer when a person decides to take action because of what they’ve read. But that’s exactly what Rita Johns did when she came across a Hope Cancer Resources article about one of our support groups in the newspaper. 

The support group – “Art, Healing & Hope: Collaging Your Story” – uses art through collage-making as a way for survivors to emotionally address and share their cancer journeys. Rita, being a creative person by nature, immediately thought of another artistic avenue that could help survivors with their cancer stories – journaling. That’s when Rita decided to start making journals for Hope Cancer Resources’ patients.

“I can't say enough about Rita and the time and energy she puts into creating these beautiful works of art for our patients,” said Miki Biggers LCSW, OSW-C, Director of Social Work Services. “She puts so much thought into each one to make it special for the person who might choose it.” 

Our social workers started putting the journals in the local oncology clinics. The ones Rita has already created – more than 100 – have flown off the shelves. One patient in particular, Lisa Jones, has already started on her second journal.

“At first I would write down two things in that booklet that I was thankful for,” Lisa said. “After several weeks of writing my thankful list, I started journaling. After ‘journeying’ for several weeks, little did I know when I received that beautiful blank booklet that my journaling would have such a positive effect on my thinking, and see how my thinking and emotions had evolved.”

It’s amazing how one person can inspire so many others, especially those who are going through such a hard time. We would like to say a huge “thank you” to Rita for all of the journals she has created and for touching so many patients’ lives in a way that they will be able to remember for years to come.

“The journals I make are meant to offer encouragement and comfort to those who are dealing with cancer,” Rita said. “They provide an outlet for cancer patients to express their feelings and to record their journeys."

If you are a survivor and would like one of Rita’s beautiful journals, give us a call at 479-361-5847.

The picture above shows Lisa (right) pointing out something she wrote in the journal Rita (left) created.