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Thoughtful cards inspire patients at Mercy
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Surgery patients at Mercy’s Spine Center of Excellence are now greeted in recovery with bright cards featuring animals and poetry, aimed at lifting their spirits and providing inspiration. The cards were created by Durango High School junior Amina Youssef.
Tasked with a school project, Amina dove into discovering more about the Navajo culture. Amina said the animals featured on the cards symbolize important figures to the Navajo people. She chose to focus on the bat, buffalo, horse and turtle because of what they represent and the comfort and inspiration their symbolism could bring to patients. For example, the bat is known as the guardian and the horse as the friend. The pictures featured on the cards are reproductions of original acrylic paintings created by Amina. The reverse side of the cards feature poems penned by Amina that explain what each animal represents.
The idea for the cards and her desire to share them with others stemmed from her own experiences recovering from surgery. In January 2015, Amina underwent surgery on a torn ACL. Unfortunately, in August of 2016, she re-tore the same ACL and had to have surgery again.
“Surgery and recovery are very mentally challenging,” Amina explained. “I needed hope and inspiration and I found that art really helped.”
Amina, who once was driven by sports, found that art provided a new outlet from which to draw inspiration.
“I discovered art as a great way to express myself and it is a really good motivator for me,” Amina stated. “Art is a new desire I have discovered.”
Amina says she originally planned on sharing the cards and messages with children, but then realized that everyone faced with surgery could benefit from them.
“I wanted the cards to bring happiness and give them inspiration,” she said. “I want to inspire others to never give up and to keep pushing forward.”
Amina is the daughter of Melissa and Jim Youssef, MD. Dr. Youssef is a fellowship-trained and board-certified spine surgeon with Spine Colorado and Medical Director of Mercy’s Spine Center of Excellence.
Thanks to Amina for sharing her story and inspiring patients at Mercy.
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