Some of you may know that several months after we moved from Scottsdale, Arizona (near my parents) to Charlotte, North Carolina, my mom, Betty, was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. She passed on November 20, 2024 after nearly three years suffering from and battling with this horrendous disease.

Mom was an artist. A scholarship student at the Art Institute of Chicago in her teens, my mom could paint just about anything. But at the time of her diagnosis, she hadn't painted in many years. As I recall, it was at least 25 years ago that my mom had painted. In late 2023 after a round of chemo, she and I sat at her kitchen counter at my coaxing, and she once again picked up her paint brush. She had a photo of a piece of birthday cake with a sparkler, and set out to capture that image. And she did so beautifully. 

When she passed, I was straightening up some things and I found the painting. I knew immediately what I would do.

Tomorrow, January 18, would be her 81st birthday. In her memory and to raise funds and awareness for the Pancreatic Cancer Foundation (PanCan), I am offering this print with all net proceeds going to PanCan.

Happy birthday, Mom. I love you and miss you every moment of every day.