Artist: Monika
"BODY ON THE TABLE"
I wanted to draw my body in the form of a stick-figure on the VCUG table. I was surprised to find that even drawing my lower body and arms and legs triggered and stressed me. So I ended up drawing only the parts I was comfortable with. That's why the painting looks the way it does. All you see is my head and torso. That’s all that’s left. They are black as coal – as they have been burned to death in the hellfire of this procedure.
"THE DOOR"
This is the door of the VCUG room. It was the most important thing to me, because it meant exit and salvation. I fixed it with my eyes. That door was the goal, my goal. So incredible close and yet SO EXTREMELY unreachable…
Artist: Julia
DUBLIN, IRELAND
A NOTE FROM THE ARTIST
When I sat down with my grief, paper and a pencil to process my VCUG trauma, I didn’t think, I just drew. This curious sketch came out of me. I know that the floating little girl with the ponytail is me and I believe the sinister silhouette on top of the stairs represents the doctors who hurt me or perhaps my fear of future doctors in adulthood who may not even be planning to hurt me. She floats like a ghost detached from her body to have the strength to climb the stairs to what is waiting for her.
Artist: Anonymous
A NOTE FROM THE ARTIST
I did some art with the goal of taking a step in the processing journey. I'm definitely not an artist, but i wanted to share it because it did help. The yellow represents 4yo me, the purple and green are my parents, and the red represents the VCUG trauma itself as well as those restraining me at the time. the yellow writing (from left to right) says “don’t make me”, “let me go”, and “i don’t want to” (and the giant “NO” that was not listened to). the purple and green writing says “i’m so sorry”. the black void is both the examination room and the inside of my brain. Just wanted to share a step in my healing journey that i hope resonates with at least one other person
Artist: Shelby
A NOTE FROM THE ARTIST
I've started drawing the different "parts" of me related to VCUG trauma. The "fawn" response is still strongest today around medical personnel and other authority figures. The "flight" image is rooted in my sixth grade memory, when I began engaging in self-injurious behaviors as a result of VCUG trauma. I tried to incorporate the "flower" element throughout to tie everything together.