During a hospital clinical placement, I was given the opportunity to interview a patient for thirty minutes. Albeit brief, this conversation left quite an impression. I remember the patient having a very open attitude: she shared details of her health journey and wasn’t afraid to reveal her emotions. I felt as though I was able to connect with her on a personal level and appreciated the trust she so clearly placed in healthcare professionals. The experience made me reflect on how every patient has their own story and how important it is to recognise these differences. Moreover, the depth of our discussion highlighted several facets of her patient experience that inspired me to create an art piece that encompassed all these aspects.

As I walk through the ward and give myself time to contemplate the reality of the hospital environment, I feel an overwhelming sense of sorrow. My heart dropped in response to hearing the patient had oesophageal cancer. She told me how she had collapsed suddenly and struggled to enjoy food and socialising since her illness. The cancer seemed to come out of nowhere: she said “Why me…but then again, why not me?” The poppy, a universal symbol of sorrow, death and mourning, represents the tragedy and pain that patients often go through. Despite this sadness, our conversation took a positive turn. The patient told me that the surgery to remove the cancer had gone well and that her doctor also said her MRI scan was “looking good”. She went on to talk fondly about the support she had received from her family and NHS staff. At the mention of her two grandchildren, she remarked that she “had a lot to live for”.

It is unfortunate that not every patient is lucky enough to have a strong support network, nonetheless, I could see how vital it was for this woman and her healing that she was surrounded by family and devoted staff. These qualities are depicted by various flowers, which collectively aim to illustrate the full picture of this patient’s experience. Below, I have listed the chosen flowers (top to bottom, left to right) and their respective meaning(s):

• Lavender: devotion, virtue.
• Aloe vera: healing, resurrection.
• Poppy: sorrow.
• Honeysuckle: bonds of love, happiness.
• Carnation: pure love, good luck.
• Violet: loyalty, devotion, faithfulness, modesty.

I am usually an avid user of colour; however, I was inspired to use graphite in this piece to emphasise the meaning behind the flowers, rather than the flowers themselves. The creative process has allowed me the time to think about this patient interaction on a deeper level and appreciate not only the doctor-patient relationship, but also the various other networks that form a patient’s reality and experience.