Happy Doll Project 2017

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－Story of Life－

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It has been twelve years since this project started, and it has been 15 years since I started the project “Hospital Art.” Each year, there were stories of precious Life.

 

It was eight years ago that I met Nana for the first time. She was only two years old when she took part in the program in which we made paintings inside a hospital in Fukushima. She was a strong little girl with great enthusiasm for painting!

 

I can’t even remember how many times I’ve visited this hospital.

And every time I saw her, she has grown into a lovely and smart girl.

She must have had pain in her heart that she needs to spend most of her childhood inside a hospital, and also physical pain because of her disease.

But yet, she was always smiling, devoting herself to making something.

And this year, I was thrilled to see her again, and her lovely mother was beside her as always.

 

Nana was about to become ten years old, and that year, she attempted to use a needle and thread for the first time. Making use of the stripe of the fabric, she made a beautiful fish. She was a little pale at that time, but will recover after a good rest!

 

On this fish, Nana has attached the message below:

 

“I found a fabric with stripe, so made a fish with stripe.

In this fish, I have put my wish to be free.

I’m going to get over this disease and be free!”

 

It was Nana’s sincere wish and strong message from the bottom of her heart.

One month later, however, Nana went to heaven.

I don’t even know how to describe the grief and sadness to see small children go earlier than we.

Nana, who fought for freedom until the very end, was a small but brave challenger.

Now she must be free from everything, enjoying her ultimate freedom.

At least, I want to believe so.

 

And there was another story.

Five years ago, I met a girl named Wakana at a hospital in Ehime. Her smile is so warming.

She also passed away early, and I was worried about her mother. But I had a chance to see her mother again.

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