HEALING WITH HEART 2025


There is profound power in storytelling.
That is the premise behind Healing with Heart, a special initiative of the Cancer Foundation launched three years ago. By creating collaborations between local artists and cancer survivors, current patients or caregivers, we hope to offer compelling visual messages of healing and hope.
There are no rules for our participants. We encourage each pair to establish an open, honest dialogue as they explore—together—the subject’s journey through cancer or caring for someone with cancer. Each year, we have seen our pairs form deep connections and lasting bonds as they discover how their stories intersect, cast new light on each other, and come together to produce unique, meaningful works of art.
The Cancer Foundation joins our Healing with Heart participants in hoping that these works—which represent their shared journeys and insights—will inspire others who face their own journeys through cancer or are caring for someone who does.
“Catharsis”
Lisa Flynn, in collaboration with Daniele Ruley


Journey Through Cancer
Daniele Ruley
I was first diagnosed with cancer in 2016. Thyroid cancer. I was told I was lucky, it’s the “easy” cancer. There is no such thing. I didn’t bounce back, as I was told I would, after undergoing a thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine. I struggled for over a year to find the right thyroid hormone replacement medication. I was constantly exhausted and achy. I developed chronic migraines, insomnia, heart issues and terrible brain fog. I fought tirelessly to feel normal again and attempted to get my life back. Constant illness, doctor appointments and hospitalizations and endless medical bills finally took almost everything I had, financially and emotionally. I had to sell my beloved house and move closer to my family in New Mexico.
I forged forward and kept advocating for myself and not accepting doctors saying I should feel fine for years—a common occurrence with thyroid patients. In 2023, I sought out a sleep doctor to look into my insomnia. She sent me to have a chest CT scan to look at my lungs. This ended up both saving my life and changing it forever—both a blessing and a curse.
I had cancer in both lungs, each a different type. It was completely separate from the thyroid cancer I’d had years before. Through multiple genetic tests I found out I have a rare gene mutation called Li Fraumeni Syndrome with Mosaicism (LFS). It causes cancer in 90% of those it affects. I suddenly became a “medical unicorn.” I kept hearing from all of my local doctors that they had only heard of what I had in textbooks. Several doctors refused to treat me because they weren’t comfortable with my diagnosis. I had to find one of just a few specialists in the U.S. and ended up having to travel out of state to receive the rest of the cancer treatments I needed. More stress, more costs and medical bills in perpetuity. Protocol for managing LFS requires multiple tests every six months to a year, for the rest of my life. I will have to navigate travelling out of state yearly to ensure I am tested properly according to those protocols.
Life with cancer, and in between cancers in my case, is tricky. I don’t think anyone’s cancer journey is linear. Mine is confusing and difficult. I’m learning to live with the possibility of the other shoe dropping at any time. I’m lucky in so many ways. And even though I’m pushing a boulder up a mountain, I have been blessed with second (and third) chances.
Cancer both tears people apart and brings them together. Something beautiful about being pushed into the world of cancer is how often angels will appear in your life. One of these angels is Lisa Flynn. We instantly had an unspoken connection and realized this pairing was going to be more than just about art. Being paired with Lisa for Healing with Heart brought back a part of me that was long dormant. She guided me on the very best journey of healing: friendship, commonality and creativity. I am looking forward to seeing how much light our beautiful art can bring into the dark world of cancer. We are sending it out into the world with love and grace.
Daniele Ruley, a native of California from the Bay Area and Mendocino County, has a passion for animals. A professional dog trainer and former handler of contraband detection K9s with a background in law enforcement, she has done work with German shepherd rescue and has trained PTSD service dogs. She is a contracted trainer, behavioral evaluator and specialist for Los Alamos County Animal Shelter. Dani has a background in art, including sculpture and the Tiffany method of stained glass. She is a CFFNM patient. To learn more about her, please visit https://cffnm.org/who-we-serve/patient-stories/

Artist Statement
Lisa Flynn
Co-creating “Catharsis” with Daniele has been one of the most profound experiences of my life. From our initial meeting, we felt a strong connection that has grown into a deep bond and friendship. Our common history of thyroid cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment was the first of many other shared and intertwined stories we discovered on this journey together.
After learning that Daniele was excited to participate and didn’t mind getting her hands dirty in the process, we decided to create a mixed-media work together. Ideas begin to surface, emerging from darkness into light, renewal and transformation—metamorphosis symbolized by the butterfly shape, which mimics the actual anatomy of the thyroid organ and the lungs. We immersed and surrendered ourselves to the process, unsure of what the outcome might be as we met in my studio many times to paint, draw, journal, share, release, laugh, cry and begin to heal our hearts.
We titled our diptych “Catharsis.” The panel with the collage is a multi-layered, richly woven tapestry of the art we created. A suspended butterfly armature hovers above and casts a shadow that moves and changes with the light. By releasing the emotional pain and trauma of the physical world depicted in the collage, we are able to rise above, transcend and move into the pure golden light that is evoked on the second panel.
I have gained so much respect and admiration for Daniele, seeing the ongoing challenges and hurdles she faces on a daily basis with courage and determination. I am also really happy and grateful that she was able to tap into her creative side during this project for therapeutic expression and ongoing self-care.
Lisa Flynn is a well-traveled artist who works in a variety of media to produce expressive paintings and drawings that range from figurative to abstract. She is an award-winning member of the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico and owner of Milagro Design, specializing in sketches and hand-drawn illustrations. Lisa finds inspiration in the Colorist and Abstract Expressionist movements and the colors and shadows of the Southwest. She has taught at Santa Fe Community College and offers workshops and private studio instruction. lisaflynnfineart.com
“With Giving You Receive”
Amy Van Winkle, in collaboration with Dion Silva


Journey Through Cancer
Dion Silva
I will never forget the moment the doctor walked into the waiting room and said, “I’m sorry to share with you that the procedure has uncovered a cancerous tumor.” It was stage IV fallopian tube cancer. The prognosis was dire. I was unsure how to process it. I was devastated, filled with fear, sadness and a sense of helplessness. The future suddenly seemed impossibly dark. But as it turns out, even in the darkest times there’s room for light.
Being by my mother’s side throughout her 14-year journey taught me so much—not just about her, but about myself and the strength of the human spirit. My mom’s resilience as a cancer “survivor” was awe-inspiring. She showed me that even when faced with unimaginable challenges, we have an untapped reserve of strength and perseverance that can carry us forward—not just for ourselves but for those around us.
The treatments took so much from her: her hair, her energy and her physical strength. But the infusion room, where these treatments were dispensed, was a place of renewed purpose and an opportunity to connect with others. Instead of focusing on her own pain, she used that space to lift others. She shared tips to ease side effects, resources for wigs and head coverings, and information she had researched. More than that, she listened. She cared. She made sure no one felt alone. After her treatments, when she started to feel better, she would always ask me to mail cards to the people she had met. Her words were filled with encouragement and gratitude, reminding them they mattered and offering her continued support. That was my mom—always giving, always teaching.
Even in her most difficult moments, she never stopped being my mother. She protected me from fear, showed me the power of compassion and taught me the true meaning of love. Those lessons remain with me every single day.
Though she is no longer with me physically, her spirit is ever-present. I feel her in the work I do now, volunteering in the infusion room. Meeting patients, I find that there have been so many advancements in cancer treatments, and they give me hope for a brighter future. Yet, what remains constant in the infusion room is the fighting spirit of the patients and the profound humanity found in that space.
Volunteering is cathartic for me. It brings back memories of my mom—her fierce determination, her kindness, her light. My mother showed me that even in the hardest of times, we can find purpose, connection and hope. She taught me how to care, how to fight and how to love without limits. Caring for her is one the greatest gifts in my life. I am so grateful for the privilege of walking alongside and supporting her on her journey.
Working with Amy on this beautiful piece of art closed the loop for me. It gave me a greater understanding that caring is not solely about caring for others but it is also about caring for yourself. I would never have thought my life would have taken the path that it did, but sometimes the path chosen for you is better than the path you desire.
Born and raised in Taos, Dion Silva is regional president of Enterprise Bank & Trust, Santa Fe. Dedicated to service and committed to building strong community relationships, he is chair of the Santa Fe Community Foundation board and vice chair of the Cancer Foundation for New Mexico board and has served on numerous other boards in Santa Fe.

Artist Statement
Amy Van Winkle
I’m a self-taught artist, and I’ve been showing and selling my work for over 20 years. When I paint, I think about the history I’m building in each painting and how to convey the transition of time and space.
When Dion approached me about collaborating on a piece for Healing with Heart, I was deeply honored. Dion was the caretaker for his mother, who succumbed to cancer. He honors her memory by volunteering his time and energy to help others going through treatment. Dion and I connected over our shared experiences and memories of watching a parent transition from our physical world.
As I prepared to create this piece, Dion and I sat down to discuss his experiences as a caregiver to his mother and others. Even throughout her suffering, Dion’s mother was more concerned about the well-being of others. She taught Dion the lesson that with giving, you receive. He has definitely inherited her caring and empathetic nature.
I used multiple layers of paint on the top portion of the painting to reflect the history and memories Dion shared with his mother—transparent details for all to delight in and hidden gems that only he and his mother share. The bottom portion of the painting represents the strength of his caring nature and the solid foundation for how he lives his life of service to those in need. Dion is truly an inspiration, and I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to create this piece in his honor.
Amy works mainly in the medium of encaustic. The surfaces she creates look delicate, yet they have endured a history of scraping and heating. The intricacy of the medium, the allure of patiently layering material and the subtle touch of fire combine to create a luminous surface. Her intention is to create paintings that instantly capture attention and then lure the viewer into a place of awareness, investigation and contemplation. Amy is collected across the globe and is a favorite of many collectors, including Oprah Winfrey. AmyVanWinkle.com