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In This Issue:
Zach Mickle
Fourteen-year-old Zach Mickle, of Wellesley, remembers how difficult it was for his father, Rob, to be stuck inside for weeks at a time while undergoing treatments for leukemia at BWH.
"He loved the outdoors, and it was hard for him not to be able to be outside for five to six weeks at a time," Mickle said.
When his father passed away in November 2012, Mickle was determined to find a way to bring the outdoors to patients who were also undergoing cancer treatments for extended periods of time, as well as their families.
With a passion for photographing scenes from nature, Mickle, a middle-school student at The Rivers School in Weston, decided he would use his own landscape photographs to bring the outdoors to patients' rooms. His photos include calming images of the ocean, flowers, birds and more.
Thanks to the guidance and support of his mother, Alyssa, and several departments at BWH, including the Center for Patients and Families, Infection Control and Tower 6C, Mickle's idea became a reality.
For about a year now, patients staying on Tower 6C-a Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center patient floor where his father was cared for-have been able to choose an image from Mickle's book of nearly 20 photos and have it displayed in their room.
Mickle and his mother had 20- by 30-inch photographs printed and laminated according to Infection Control standards at BWH. The large photographs are displayed in patient rooms using Velcro adhesives and then cleaned once a patient is discharged.
Katie Murphy Spinello, DNP, RN, nurse director of Tower 6A and 6C, said the photographs are extremely popular among patients because many of the scenes remind them of special times in their lives.
"Patients are blown away by the photos," Spinello said. "They capture beautiful images of ocean waves, mountains in winter or an inspiring array of flowers. They spark great conversations."
Natalie Talbot, BSN, RN, is one BWHer and patient who found comfort in a photograph of an ocean scene during her first stay at BWH for chemotherapy to treat lymphoma last fall. She said her spirits were brightened during a difficult and scary time, thanks to the photo.
"I thought it was the nicest thing anyone could think of doing for patients," said Talbot, a staff nurse on Tower 6C. Talbot is finishing treatment and said she is feeling great.
Mickle's mother said she's proud of her son: "I'm happy because he's not only doing something he knows would have been very important to Rob, but it's also a creative outlet for him."
Mickle's goal is to continue improving his photography skills and adding to the collection. Patients have requested sports-themed photos, and Mickle is working on adding to his collection.
"I want to make sure that every patient has a wide variety to choose from," he said. "My dad would have loved these photos and would be so happy that we thought of a way to bring nature into the hospital."