DonnaBellas Angels is a non-profit that provides inspirational art for mental health wellness. Its motto is “Medicine Heals the Body, Art Heals the Soul”.
Laurel Latto, Artist and Founder, discusses her story that inspired the creation of DonnaBellas Angels and how the art has evolved in service of the community. The “Wellness Party” uses art to create a healing and positive environment. The wellness party will be available soon as a digital download for loved ones to provide remote patient support due to COVID-19 hospitalization restrictions.
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Transformations of DonnaBellas Angels
Thoughts from Laurel Latto, Artist and Founder of DonnaBellas Angels
When I incorporated the non-profit in 2007, the focus was inspirational art for the mental health wellness of cancer patients and their loved ones. Working in medical research, I experienced that the new cancer drugs could cure cancer, but they did not help heal the emotional toll on patients or their loved ones even after the cancer was gone. The idea was providing art that would complement the cancer treatment and recovery experience. The main art was cancer poems and prayers with angels.
Beyond Cancer Art
As DonnaBellas Angels grew, the art focus shifted outside of oncology to those coping with chronic or terminal illnesses such as diabetes, pain management, or addiction disorder recovery with new angels, hearts, butterflies, and/or words.
The art’s reach grew again with the addition of Awareness Gallery providing colorful awareness ribbons for a variety of diseases, disabilities, and social causes. The art expanded further when it started to be used by the public for general spiritual awareness like when an elementary classroom used the inspirational words for an art time craft.
Creating the "Wellness Party"
The art took on a personal meaning for me 3 years ago when my father was diagnosed with cancer. He is in remission now but has had regular hospitalizations.
During one of them, I created the “Wellness Party” for creating an emotional shift from always focusing on illness to allow in more thoughts for healing and wellness. It involved decorating his room with art that was not only visible for him but placed for medical staff to improve their mood upon entering or leaving the room. I gave out cards to the nurses so they could pass them onto patients with the intention of creating emotional wellness in surrounding patient rooms.
COVID Pandemic Support
In re-thinking how DonnaBellas Angels can serve the public during COVID-19, I am working on a new art campaign focused on supporting patients and caregivers managing remote medical or hospital care. I was inspired to create this after my elderly parents both had to go to the hospital with non-COVID related emergencies and my father required hospitalization for weeks for his condition. I was able to use my medical knowledge in a variety of ways to provide remote support and I want to share those insights with you.
Items that will be created are downable art. There will be images with healing messages you can text or share on social media, as well as, printable art that can be used to create your own wellness party.
My dad has short term memory issues. I knew he was not going to give the detailed answers medical staff needed to know. Before he went into the ER, I wrote out a medical knowledge sheet for doctors and nurses. I did a Facebook Live video where I discussed it in more detail. I am creating a blank template sheet that you can use to capture medical history for you or a loved one so if you have to go to the hospital, you are prepared!
More will be coming soon so please check back and follow the newsletter for updates!
Warm Regards,
Laurel Latto
DonnaBellas Angels Artist & Founder
