Drawing Through the Darkness: Maya’s Story of Art & Healing

Maya, a young cancer patient and gifted artist, shares how drawing became her outlet during treatment for acute myeloid leukemia. Inspired by animator Vivienne Medrano, Maya dove into digital art to escape the fear and isolation of hospital life. Now, she's setting her sights on SVA in NYC with hopes of turning her pain into powerful animation.

In this episode of Life on Pause, Maya discusses:

🎨 Learning to draw from YouTube & Reels

🧠 How art helped her through depression

💻 Her go-to tools for digital creativity

💫 Her dreams of becoming an animator

This episode is a reminder that art can be a lifeline, even in the darkest moments.

About Life on Pause:

Life on Pause is a podcast for and by young adults with cancer. Produced by Penn State Health’s AYA Oncology Program, each episode is rooted in honest storytelling and community connection. Our content is reviewed by medical and psychosocial experts to ensure accuracy and care.

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💻 Website: https://www.lifeonpausepodcast.com/

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