Live Auction begins Feb 8 - 5 pm at the Santa Fe Convention Center
For more information, visit: https://cffnm.org
Lisa Flynn: Healing with Heart."Catharsis"
Artist Statement
Lisa Flynn
Co-creating “Catharsis” with Daniele has been one of the most profound experiences of my life. From our initial meeting, we felt a strong connection that has grown into a deep bond and friendship. Our common history of thyroid cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment was the first of many other shared and intertwined stories we discovered on this journey together.
After learning that Daniele was excited to participate and didn’t mind getting her hands dirty in the process, we decided to create a mixed-media work together. Ideas begin to surface, emerging from darkness into light, renewal and transformation—metamorphosis symbolized by the butterfly shape, which mimics the actual anatomy of the thyroid organ and the lungs. We immersed and surrendered ourselves to the process, unsure of what the outcome might be as we met in my studio many times to paint, draw, journal, share, release, laugh, cry and begin to heal our hearts.
We titled our diptych “Catharsis.” The panel with the collage is a multi-layered, richly woven tapestry of the art we created. A suspended butterfly armature hovers above and casts a shadow that moves and changes with the light. By releasing the emotional pain and trauma of the physical world depicted in the collage, we are able to rise above, transcend and move into the pure golden light that is evoked on the second panel.
I have gained so much respect and admiration for Daniele, seeing the ongoing challenges and hurdles she faces on a daily basis with courage and determination. I am also really happy and grateful that she was able to tap into her creative side during this project for therapeutic expression and ongoing self-care.
Lisa Flynn is a well-traveled artist who works in a variety of media to produce expressive paintings and drawings that range from figurative to abstract. She is an award-winning member of the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico and owner of Milagro Design, specializing in sketches and hand-drawn illustrations. Lisa finds inspiration in the Colorist and Abstract Expressionist movements and the colors and shadows of the Southwest. She has taught at Santa Fe Community College and offers workshops and private studio instruction. lisaflynnfineart.com
Journey Through Cancer
Daniele Ruley
I was first diagnosed with cancer in 2016. Thyroid cancer. I was told I was lucky, it’s the “easy” cancer. There is no such thing. I didn’t bounce back, as I was told I would, after undergoing a thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine. I struggled for over a year to find the right thyroid hormone replacement medication. I was constantly exhausted and achy. I developed chronic migraines, insomnia, heart issues and terrible brain fog. I fought tirelessly to feel normal again and attempted to get my life back. Constant illness, doctor appointments and hospitalizations and endless medical bills finally took almost everything I had, financially and emotionally. I had to sell my beloved house and move closer to my family in New Mexico.
I forged forward and kept advocating for myself and not accepting doctors saying I should feel fine for years—a common occurrence with thyroid patients. In 2023, I sought out a sleep doctor to look into my insomnia. She sent me to have a chest CT scan to look at my lungs. This ended up both saving my life and changing it forever—both a blessing and a curse.
I had cancer in both lungs, each a different type. It was completely separate from the thyroid cancer I’d had years before. Through multiple genetic tests I found out I have a rare gene mutation called Li Fraumeni Syndrome with Mosaicism (LFS). It causes cancer in 90% of those it affects. I suddenly became a “medical unicorn.” I kept hearing from all of my local doctors that they had only heard of what I had in textbooks. Several doctors refused to treat me because they weren’t comfortable with my diagnosis. I had to find one of just a few specialists in the U.S. and ended up having to travel out of state to receive the rest of the cancer treatments I needed. More stress, more costs and medical bills in perpetuity. Protocol for managing LFS requires multiple tests every six months to a year, for the rest of my life. I will have to navigate travelling out of state yearly to ensure I am tested properly according to those protocols.
Life with cancer, and in between cancers in my case, is tricky. I don’t think anyone’s cancer journey is linear. Mine is confusing and difficult. I’m learning to live with the possibility of the other shoe dropping at any time. I’m lucky in so many ways. And even though I’m pushing a boulder up a mountain, I have been blessed with second (and third) chances.
Cancer both tears people apart and brings them together. Something beautiful about being pushed into the world of cancer is how often angels will appear in your life. One of these angels is Lisa Flynn. We instantly had an unspoken connection and realized this pairing was going to be more than just about art. Being paired with Lisa for Healing with Heart brought back a part of me that was long dormant. She guided me on the very best journey of healing: friendship, commonality and creativity. I am looking forward to seeing how much light our beautiful art can bring into the dark world of cancer. We are sending it out into the world with love and grace.
Daniele Ruley, a native of California from the Bay Area and Mendocino County, has a passion for animals. A professional dog trainer and former handler of contraband detection K9s with a background in law enforcement, she has done work with German shepherd rescue and has trained PTSD service dogs. She is a contracted trainer, behavioral evaluator and specialist for Los Alamos County Animal Shelter. Dani has a background in art, including sculpture and the Tiffany method of stained glass. She is a CFFNM patient. To learn more about her, please visit https://cffnm.org/who-we-serve/patient-stories/
There is profound power in storytelling.
That is the premise behind Healing with Heart, a special initiative of the Cancer Foundation launched three years ago. By creating collaborations between local artists and cancer survivors, current patients or caregivers, we hope to offer compelling visual messages of healing and hope.
There are no rules for our participants. We encourage each pair to establish an open, honest dialogue as they explore—together—the subject’s journey through cancer or caring for someone with cancer. Each year, we have seen our pairs form deep connections and lasting bonds as they discover how their stories intersect, cast new light on each other, and come together to produce unique, meaningful works of art.
The Cancer Foundation joins our Healing with Heart participants in hoping that these works—which represent their shared journeys and insights—will inspire others who face their own journeys through cancer or are caring for someone who does.
Live Auction Information: a live auction will take place Saturday Feb 8 at 5 pm.
The Sweetheart Auction program will begin with the Cancer Foundation Mission Video, leading into the Patient Services Paddle Raise—the most powerful moment of the night. Your generosity directly transforms the lives of cancer patients across northern New Mexico.
Every dollar raised provides essential patient support, including:
- Food assistance
- Travel to treatment
- Lodging for patients traveling for care
- Support groups
- Emergency assistance
Join us in making a difference at giving levels of $20,000, $10,000, $5,000, $2,500, $1,000, $500, $250, and $100. Your support ensures that no patient faces their journey alone.
Want to pledge in advance? Contact Sonja Thorpe Bohannon, Development Director, at 505-522-2376.
Thank you for your heartfelt generosity!
https://cffnm.org/sweetheart-auction/healing-with-heart-2025/
