Ina Levinson has been a family caregiver for her husband and cancer thriver, Jeff Levinson, and her elderly parents. Her husband was diagnosed 18 years ago with plasmacytoma and later with multiple myeloma. He continues to receive treatment under the care of Jeffrey Zonder, M.D., hematologist, leader of the Multiple Myeloma and Amyloidosis Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), and member of the Hematology Oncology MDT at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. Levinson sees Dr. Zonder at Karmanos’ Weisberg Cancer Center in Farmington Hills.
Levinson shares that at one time, her husband’s rare case of neuropathy was so severe that he couldn’t walk, lift his leg, or eat without special utensils – she had to cut his food for him. Levinson recalls Jeff as being fragile and frail during that time.
Levinson worked as a general manager for a major retail store for over 40 years and would come home during her lunch hour to help Jeff. After she retired, she realized she needed a sense of purpose and created her own art room, a tranquil space where she could go and listen to music and paint. She had not painted previously but always loved color, texture and balance. Levinson goes there to paint several hours a day.
“It is so much fun to take a blank canvas and create,” she explained.
Her paintings might start dark, but after revisiting them the next day, she may change them completely, go to a happy place, and mix in brighter colors.
Levinson believes “art makes people happy, and as an artist, I can control my environment.” Thinking back on those times, she added, “As family caregivers, we can’t control everything, but it is healing to find something we can control.”
Today, her husband builds the canvases so she can paint.
Levinson credits Dr. Zonder and other physicians and therapists for the reason Jeff is alive today. She credits her husband for fighting so hard to get his life back. She believes the visits from the men’s group at Karmanos, who also offered support, encouragement, and rides to treatment, were critical to his nearly complete recovery.
The Levinsons participate in the Give Yourself a Break Today healing arts program at Karmanos, which the EXHALE Initiative supports. Jeff continues as a member of the men’s group and is also a weekly Karmanos volunteer who supports other patients. They feel good about what they have accomplished together.
“As family caregivers, other people’s needs feel bigger than ours, but we can’t forget our own needs,” shared Levinson.
If you are a family caregiver or cancer thriver and want to participate in the free Give Yourself a Break Today healing arts program at Karmanos, contact Kathleen Hardy, LMSW, by emailing [email protected] or calling 248-538-4712 to receive the monthly calendar and newsletter.