atIMME'MS.VMMVMUM, . "1:11WAWMIMOKWAVISMIMIZMWM. •,` rich in tones of red, green, yellow and blue — depict scenes of dense forests, clear lakes and ripened fruits. Some convey depth, some levity. One shows a crimson apple in four stages: whole, bitten, half-eaten and es- sentially devoured. "I did a lot of pictures of apples. All of them I titled L'Chaim," she said. "I thought of apples as a symbol of life." Ms. Zaretzki shared her paint- ings with an audience of more than 400 at Sinai's "Sixth An- nual Cancer Survivors' Celebra- tion," held June 7 in the Sinai dinner honors cancer survivors and loved ones. RUTH LITTMANN STAFF WRITER Students at Berkley High School voted Jean Parnes "favorite teacher" this year. Pictured above with her husband, Arthur (also a teacher at Berkley), Ms. Parnes says her life has changed since illness struck in 1988. "Cancer definitely has affected my teaching," she said. Like so many survivors, Ms. Parnes says she has learned to focus on life's essentials: "Hats in class don't matter as much. It's learning that counts." The Parneses attended the Sinai dinner on June 7. " 'Celebration Of Life' is the title," she said, "and that's exactly what it is. It's a renewal." lmost like a symptom, art re-entered Linda Zaretzki's life when doctors diagnosed her with breast can- cer. During college, Ms. Zaretzki stud- ied painting, but later put it aside to marry and raise a family. She recon- nected with colors and canvas while sitting on a Sinai Hospital bed. Between surgeries she painted, trying desperately to brush away her fears with every stroke. "It was an empty experience at first, but I pushed myself to do it," she said. "When I was re- leased from the hospital, I en- rolled in a watercolor class. I was there as an art student, not as a patient. I saw direction. I felt full of life when I painted." Ms. Zaretzki's creations — audience from two perspectives: care giver and physician. He said care givers can lessen feelings of helplessness by realizing that their mere presence means a great deal to the afflicted. "Take their hand. Just be there. Show that you care," he said. Rabbi Leonard Perlstein, di- rector of pastoral care at Sinai, hearkened to a Bible story of "the classic survivor" — Job. In the Book ofJob , Satan told God he would test Job's faith by taking everything— his wealth, health, possessions and social standing. Everything, that is, ex- cept Job's life. "But an astonishing thing took place," Rabbi Perlstein said. "Throughout the story, Job is comforted by his friends. The question becomes, why didn't Satan take Job's friends, too?" The answer, said the rabbi, is "a human being can't exist with- out friends. Taking away his friends would have amounted to taking away his life, which is why these gatherings of cancer survivors are critical." Rabbi Perlstein explained that sufferers need to surround them- selves with friends who know their trauma firsthand. "Someone with a life-threat- ening illness faces death contin- uously. Others experience it only as an abstract thought," he said. The Rev. James Lyons, direc- tor of the Ecumenical Institute For Jewish-Christian Studies, combined religious and person- al perspectives. The Southfield- based clergyman suffered from juvenile diabetes and doc- tors predicted he wouldn't live past 35. hospital's Zuckerman Dining "I am healthy, not because I Room. The event honored cancer am physically well. I am healthy survivors, their care givers, loved because I have balance and my ones and doctors. life has meaning," he said. 'We've come together to sup- Rev. Lyons will turn 57 this port each other, to love each oth- year. er, to show that life is uncertain In the crowded Zuckerman and to show that life goes on, de- Dining Room, many audience spite all the challenges," said members nodded silently Marilynn Emmer, a nurse clin- when speakers said their ician in Sinai's oncology depart- sicknesses generated a renewed ment. appreciation of life. The Rev. Ms. Emmer, along with the Lyons told the story of a dying rest of the department, organized - woman named Geraldine. Dur- the event. After a kosher dinner, ing one of his visits with Geral- panelists like Ms. Zaretzki de- dine, the Rev. Lyons asked: "If I livered speeches describing their could wave my magic wand and experiences with life-altering dis- return you to life before cancer, eases. would you go back?" Geraldine "The people here have had declined. similar experiences and similar "She said, 'I won't do it.' She concerns," said Dr. Robert Reed, told me, 'Before cancer, I didn't ti vice president for medical affairs know what it was like to have life at Sinai. "It's very reassuring to and relationships.' " be with others, to know they're Said the Rev. Lyons: "Life is not alone." not about how much you've got. Dr. Reed, whose wife suffers It's about how much you're able 37 from lung cancer, addressed the to share with others."