On August 14, 2000, one week after my youngest son Peter was born, and three months after the third birthday of my twins Campbell and Teddy, Campbell was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). He was immediately admitted to the hospital for one month of rigorous chemotherapies and steroids.  On September 14, we received the good news that his cancer was in remission, and he got to go home. That same weekend, St. Louis’s Forest Park hosted the annual hot-air balloon race. But the wind played a joke on the participants that day. From his University City home, Campbell spotted a bunny balloon, a truck balloon, a popcorn balloon, and other larger-than-life balloons floating toward his own backyard. He didn’t want to stay inside. He wanted to run toward the balloons that were gradually filling the sky and slowly  descending on his neighborhood park. I placed the twins into their red wagon, baby brother in a front pack, and joined the parade of neighbors filling the street. We ran to the park to greet the balloons reclining on the grass. After celebrating the first battle won with balloons in his park, he then completed 2 1/2 more years of chemotherapy.

Soon after the twins twenty-eighth birthday, I was asked to design a Living Mural for Pedal the Cause 2025 which coincided with Campbell’s 25 years of survivorship. (Coincidently, that weekend was the same weekend as the annual balloon race.)

Go to Pedal the Cause to see more about Creating a World without Cancer.

Visit Ojascastro Gallery to see my artwork;  Visit Artist's Statement to see how I celebrate community;   Visit Ojascastro ArtShop  to purchase artwork.
​Questions? Email me at [email protected].

To take a peak at what's on the horizon for 2026, ​visit my Sketch Book.
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