Columbia Memorial | Health Compass | Spring 2019

professional artist and art instructor at Clatsop Community College, and Randy McClelland, CMH’s Director of Strategic Initiatives. “The cups are made with our patients in mind, from the colors to the textures that they use on them,” Rasmussen says. “There is a reason for all of it.” Rasmussen says the mugs emphasize the Planetree philosophy of person-centered care. Caring for the whole person isn’t just about giving them the medication they need, she explains. When a patient receives their mug, caregivers gather with them to celebrate and acknowledge their journey. At that time, patients also receive information on follow-up support, how to check in with the triage nurse, and other helpful resources. For those who have had frequent treatment at the Cancer Collaborative, it can be hard to go back to daily life, Rasmussen says. Applauding the end of their treatment physically and symbolically with a mug and offering post-treatment care is important. “We want to make sure they know we’re still here, still supporting them,” she says. “Even if they just want to come in and say ‘hello.’” Lessons in flexibility Ulappa’s connection with the clay mugs began long before he chose his. At the start of his treatment in the Cancer Collaborative, he noticed the “cool bling” displayed on shelves in the Infusion Center. The mugs are carefully arranged on shelves built into the wall—evenly spaced and facing the same direction. Ulappa says he made a pest of himself to some of the CMH caregivers. He’d walk by, clinking the mugs together and rearranging the directions the handles were facing. When caregivers said they didn’t look right, he’d respond that he was teaching them flexibility. “Faces used to turn purple when they saw me coming,” Ulappa says. “I had six months of messing with them, and it used to drive them crazy. “They started laughing about it, and I’d say, ‘Look at the growth you have going on.’” In reality, the caregivers and patients he has come to know during treatment have become a second family to Ulappa. He received his own mug after his 34th round of chemotherapy. Having handled so many mugs during his treatment, he didn’t have a specific cup in mind when treatment ended. He knew that by the time he was done, mugs would’ve come and gone. “I found the one that felt right in my hand,” he says. “I liked the color and the design.” ‘Game on’ Ulappa continues to get treatment at the Cancer Collaborative, having started another round of chemotherapy in February. With the cancer under control for now, he says using his mug helps keep him in the present. “Slow down, savor the moments that you have,” he advises. “Because in the end, no one is going to avoid death.” To him, there’s no mystery about the end of the process. “Either I’ll kill it or it’ll kill me,” he explains. “Game on.” CMH is focused on person-centered care. Check out how our cancer collaborative brings advanced cancer care to the Columbia coast. Visit columbiamemorial.org/ services/cancer-care . COLUMBIAMEMORIAL.ORG SPRING 2019 5 Handles for the mugs. Drying mugs ready for glazing. Finished mugs just out of the kiln.