While in University Hospital for over a year waiting for a double lung transplant, Michigan Medicine patient, Darleen Boynton, was inspired by Mandala and Celtic knot coloring kits she received from the Gifts of Art program. Each kit came with a blank piece of paper as well as a sheet of tips to encourage the recipient to make their own designs. Darleen used her hands to make patterns on the paper. By moving the paper and tracing her hand in different ways she could make unique patterns and shapes to color.

This display is just a sampling of her work. Each piece represents one day in the hospital. Before her double lung transplant, she had created over 100 unique “Handalas”, as well as “Mandalas” from Gifts of Art coloring books. Darleen is still passing the time making art while she waits for online appointments.

She is very glad to live at home and take deep breaths every single day.