I was diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2008 at Ohio State University James Cancer Center. After my initial treatment, I went into remission and received the hospital’s courage award. About a year and a half later my cancer relapsed and I underwent aggressive chemotherapy, followed by an autologolous stem cell transplant, but the transplant immediately failed.I began treatment with Adcetris (Brentuximab Vendotin) in 2012, groundbreaking new therapy. My original treatment plan called for 16 cycles but after just five my scans were clear.
Today, I’m approaching 15 years since that fifth and final treatment. During one of the darkest periods of my journey, I found myself unable to do the glass blowing that had been my life‘s work. So, in the summer of 2011, I began folding origami cranes by hand coloring each one with crayons. I folded a total of 1615 cranes. For years those cranes were boxed away.
Then, in September 2025, after learning about the story of Sadako Sasaki, I was inspired to bring 1000 of them together into this piece. Creating this piece brought those long stored cranes out of their boxes and gave them a new purpose. They finally had the chance to spread their wings. What was something to keep my hands and mind occupied in the hospital during a devastating chapter became something far more meaningful.
I hope this story reminds anyone facing a difficult time that it doesn’t necessarily define the rest of their lives.