Erella Ganon has a brain tumour, and she wants everyone to know about it.
The 56-year-old woman has had brain surgery three times, had both of her adrenal glands removed and been through multiple bouts of radiation.
Ganon chronicles her health journey through a series of images in what she calls a “graphic autobiography.”
It’s a habit she got into as teenager. Every day she uses fountain pens to draw a picture of what she’s experiencing.
For the past decade those pictures have illustrated her battle with Cushing’s disease, a rare disorder that makes her pituitary gland release too much ATCH (adrenocorticotrophic hormone), stimulating the production of cortisol, a stress hormone, creating tumours.
Ganon shares her images on an online blog that in turn offers inspiration and comfort to others struggling with illness.
The hand-drawn pictures present an open and often humorous look at life with disease. The images are instantly relatable and depict everything from hair loss to hospital food.
“Everybody who’s touched by catastrophic disease… has a feeling of powerlessness, but the artwork and putting it out there is the opposite of that,” said Ganon.
via Brain tumour survivor draws comfort | Toronto Star.
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Jun 16, 2015 @ 23:10:58
Erella, You really are beautiful! May God see that you continue to get well from the tumor in the pituitary. In the second surgery for my pit. tumor I elected to have the entire gland removed. Pathology showed it full of Cushings cells unseen otherwise. That was 2003, and I feel very good, even though my weight goes up and down. Bless you each and every day!!