Motivational doodles bring a smile to staff on the coronavirus frontline
A talented patient at St Bartholomew’s Hospital is bringing light relief to staff on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic by creating inspirational artwork.
Hannah, initially an inpatient at St Bartholomew’s for four months from December 2018 to April 2019, contacted Barts Charity about donating a piece of art to the Trust, and it was eventually professionally printed and framed.
“It was an idea I sketched out a few hours before I went for open-heart surgery. I felt so strongly about giving something back”, she said.
“I wanted to show my appreciation for the staff. They saved me when I was crumbling,” said Hannah, who has been a patient at Barts Heart Centre at the hospital on and off for a number of years.
Her latest designs – created using just permanent marker and printer paper – include a ‘thank you’ message in the sky, written to coincide with the #clapforourcarers campaign, and the message that ‘real heroes wear PPE.’
“The staff were there for me through every twist and turn, of which there were many,” she said.
“I just wanted to do something to let them to know that their extra efforts meant something and were noticed and appreciated.”
Many of Hannah’s drawings have since been put up on staff room walls at the hospital.
“They get very emotional about [the drawings],” she said.
“A doodle a day seems to have done so much more than I ever imagined it could – little things do a lot.
“I hope staff and patients on other wards experience that too – I want to spread that feeling as far as it can go,” said Hannah.
“To be able to make them smile, or, in any way, inject some positive emotion into their lives, has been a privilege. I am so, so proud of this hospital and everyone in it.
“My final message to them all would be: 'keep going'.
“Their attitude makes me so proud. I'd shout it from the rooftops if I could.”
A selection of Hannah's artwork
