AUGUST 29 • 2024 | 43
O
ver 15 years ago, Stacy
Cykiert picked up a new
hobby and started beading
with a friend. One day, she heard
about the opportunity to volunteer
at the Karmanos Cancer Institute’s
Weisberg Cancer Center in
Farmington Hills, where she could
share her new craft with cancer
thrivers and their family caregivers.
Cykiert has always volunteered
her time in the community, so it was
second nature for her to jump right
into facilitating beading sessions at
Karmanos. Her beading group meets
twice a month on Wednesdays. Any
family in the community touched
by cancer is welcome to attend.
All healing art workshops and art
supplies are free for participants.
“The group members are so
extremely appreciative of the littlest
thing I do for them. I feel like what
I am doing matters,” Cykiert said as
she expressed her love of getting to
know everyone participating in the
activity.
“When I started the group, I
let participants tell me what they
wanted. Some come every time and
want to do their own thing. Others
sometimes drop in, wanting to make
a bracelet for a special occasion.
Some want me to fix their broken
jewelry, and I do my best to help.
Putting beads on a string can be
hypnotizing and calming.”
One group member has described
Cykiert as a born teacher. Many
participants in the beading group
find the activity relaxing. When
participants are beading, they don’t
have to think or worry about cancer;
instead, they can create and be in
the moment.
Some enjoy the quiet and some
like to socialize. Everyone in the
group can do whatever they want,
and Cykiert is there to demonstrate
and assist as needed. Patients who
experience neuropathy in their
hands (pain, pins-and-needles
sensation, numbness) say beading
helps.
According to participant Marilyn
Knapp, beading can also help with
depression. “Everyone can benefit
regardless of how serious the cancer
in your family is”
, she said.
Knapp says she’s hooked on
beading and enjoys the social aspect,
too.
On the day pictured, Cykiert
demonstrated how to create
suncatchers using driftwood and
beads. She found the driftwood, and
she also donated the beautiful beads.
The Karmanos Healing Arts
program is open to everyone
no matter what hospital cancer
treatement took place. If your
family is touched by cancer and
you are interested in participating
or volunteering in the Healing Arts
program at Karmanos, contact
oncology social worker Kathleen
Hardy at (248) 538-4712.
The Healing Arts program is
supported by the Leah A. Davidson
Endowment for the Healing Arts
and the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Legacy
Fund. For additional support
services at Karmanos, call (248)
538-4712.
At Karmanos, families touched by cancer find a “healing art” in beading.
A Beautiful, Calming Craft
KATHLEEN HARDY SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
HEALTH
Stacy Cykiert shows
a Native American-
style suncatcher she
styled to Healing
Arts participant
Marilyn Knapp.
“Putting beads
on a string can be
hypnotizing and
calming,” Cykiert
said.
TIMOTHY J. HAUNERT, KARMANOS CANCER INSTITUTE