－Story of Life－

​

It has been twelve years since this project started, and it has been 15 years since I started the project “Hospital Art.” Each year, there were stories of precious Life.

It was eight years ago that I met Nana for the first time. She was only two years old when she took part in the program in which we made paintings inside a hospital in Fukushima. She was a strong little girl with great enthusiasm for painting!

I can’t even remember how many times I’ve visited this hospital.

And every time I saw her, she has grown into a lovely and smart girl.

She must have had pain in her heart that she needs to spend most of her childhood inside a hospital, and also physical pain because of her disease.

But yet, she was always smiling, devoting herself to making something.

And this year, I was thrilled to see her again, and her lovely mother was beside her as always.

Nana was about to become ten years old, and that year, she attempted to use a needle and thread for the first time. Making use of the stripe of the fabric, she made a beautiful fish. She was a little pale at that time, but will recover after a good rest!

On this fish, Nana has attached the message below:

“I found a fabric with stripe, so made a fish with stripe.

In this fish, I have put my wish to be free.

I’m going to get over this disease and be free!”

It was Nana’s sincere wish and strong message from the bottom of her heart.

One month later, however, Nana went to heaven.

I don’t even know how to describe the grief and sadness to see small children go earlier than we.

Nana, who fought for freedom until the very end, was a small but brave challenger.

Now she must be free from everything, enjoying her ultimate freedom.

At least, I want to believe so.

And there was another story.

Five years ago, I met a girl named Wakana at a hospital in Ehime. Her smile is so warming.

She also passed away early, and I was worried about her mother. But I had a chance to see her mother again.

​

It was right after the Kumamoto Quake, and I was calling for volunteers.

Responding to this call, Wakana’s mother, whose hometown is Kumamoto, volunteered to help us, bringing with her Wakana’s younger brother and sister and her friend.

I was surprised that Wakana’s mother was from Kumamoto!

We were desperate to find more volunteers, so were truly thankful to her.

More than that, I was really relieved to see her in good spirits.

Wakana’s younger sister was born right after Wakana passed away, and her younger brother was so sweet to his sister.

Wakana’s mother looked very peaceful and happy.

It felt like a thorn that had long been stuck in my heart had finally been removed.

That day, we again did Happy Doll Project.

Watching Wakana’s sister and brother make a doll while their mother looked on and smiled, I certainly felt that Wakana was also there.

When their doll was complete, the brother put it on the board, saying, “I’m going to hang it for with my sister!” At this remark and action, something inside me burst into tears. Wakana does keep on living in the hearts of her family. Then I thought I want to see Nana’s mother and her family like this.

Nana left the following message after the last program:

“I’m in hospital for a long time, but can put up with it, because I have the Happy Doll that I made before. I’m looking forward to making a Happy Doll again.”

I will treasure this message by Nana as I continue to face the stories of life.

And I reminded myself that I need to send forward all the precious messages which the children and other people have left: how precious, important and wonderful life is.

Each story doesn’t end there.

They start from there.