Cancerwise

Art has long been recognized as having healing power. That’s one of the reasons Leslie Cromeans chose to volunteer at UT MD Anderson’s Art Space for Patients and Caregivers.

Cromeans was one of the first regular volunteers in the Art Space. We spoke with her to learn more about her volunteerism, how she connects with patients and why cancer is near and dear to her heart.

How long have you been a volunteer at UT MD Anderson?

I started volunteering here in October 2023, spending my sessions talking with patients. The Art Space opened that same month, and I was excited when I saw an email looking for volunteers. I replied right away, and the team got me signed up quickly. I joined the Art Space as a volunteer that November.

Why did you want to start volunteering at UT MD Anderson?

I had spent most of 2023 in New Mexico helping my mom, who’d just been diagnosed with cancer. I remember how thoughtful and caring those hospital volunteers were, so when I came back to Houston, I wanted to help people in that same way.

UT MD Anderson is well-known for its cancer care. I felt like volunteering here would give me the best chance of helping more people, so I applied.

What interested you about the Art Space specifically?

Honestly, it just sounded really cool.

Do you have an artistic background?

My mom is very artsy and into crafts. I grew up with a craft room in our house. I don’t have a professional art background by any means, but I know how to use a hot glue gun!

What does a typical day look like for you in the Art Space?

Every shift is different. Most of the time, I’m making sure supplies are organized and easy to access for patients.

For a while, we were creating a lot of Shrinky Dinks, which are plastic sheets that shrink and thicken when heated in the oven. They can be used to make items like keychains and pendants for necklaces. I would often help visitors heat their Shrinky Dinks in the oven.

One day, a patient came in who wanted to create something but needed some artistic direction. That’s when our Art Space manager, Kasey Marsh, suggested that I draw something on a canvas for the patient to color in. Since then, canvas designs have become really popular in the Art Space.

How do you get ideas for your drawings?

I typically pull the concepts from Instagram or Pinterest. I go for things that are a little more whimsical with simple lines to draw and color in – like a little frog with a witch hat and a wand, for example.

Sometimes people have requests, and I do my best to draw them. I’ve attempted to draw Pikachu so many times, but I haven’t mastered that one yet! I try to look for things that are cute and easy to draw, and patients love them.