Art Therapy Gets Miles Moving

When Miles was a patient at Children’s National Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, art therapy inspired him to get out of bed. The 3-year-old loves to paint. The chance to grab a brush got him moving toward the art therapy room, and his recovery.

Art encouraged Miles, and that incentive was important. After an unexpected stay in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Miles had to rebuild his strength and practice standing. “Art therapy was such a huge motivator for him,” says his mom, Leslie. “He made such a strong connection with the Tracy’s Kids art therapists.”

Miles especially loved creating an art apron to match the one worn by Alice, an intern with Tracy’s Kids Art Therapy Program. He felt so comfortable with Alice that he gave her pretend shots, reassuring her that the medicine would help her heal. “The idea of using art as a tool for getting better was massive for him,” says Leslie. She is thankful for how the program gave Miles a safe, fun way to express himself during a scary time. “It kept us sane and gave my son something to look forward to every day.”