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