Roseville, Sacramento, South Sacramento

Honoring patients with art

Hope, peace, and serenity are words on a beautiful and unusual hanging quilt that greets our patients who come for treatment in our Radiation Oncology Center in Roseville (pictured at left).

The quilt is made up of small squares from cleaned and cut gourds. Staff members picked a type of cancer and used a corresponding colored ribbon for each square. Nineteen different types of cancer are represented.

“We decided to do this to honor our patients and bring us together as a team,” says Judy Roth, administrator of Radiation Oncology. Joni Canada, RN, Radiation Oncology, introduced the quilt idea. “I just gave our staff some ideas for the squares, like using clay, paint, or burning,” she says. “Each one came out so differently and is so perfect.”

Canada is now working on a new quilt with the Rancho Cordova Radiation Oncology staff, who were inspired by the piece. During the past five years, Canada and her co-workers have made dozens of seasonal decorations from gourds. After being displayed, the decorations are given to patients.

Find resources and information about cancer.

Back to top