‘Lost and Found’ is a story that has eclipsed most stories that have happened over the past 40 years. Milly the Quilter and Gloria remain #1, and I’d be hard pressed to tell a story that is more meaningful than this one.
It happened like this…
Well over ten years ago, I was sitting in a doctor’s office at a big hospital outside of Boston, UMass Memorial. While waiting, I looked at the art that was displayed on the walls. It was children’s art. It was beautiful. When the doctor came in, the first thing I asked him was why the hospital decided to hang children’s art. This is what he said:
“People who come to hospitals are worried and scared. Children’s art makes them smile and feel good.”
Lightbulb moment!
He was right, and I knew what I had to do. I contacted our local hospital and presented the idea of adorning their major hallway with children’s art. I told them about UMass Memorial. I pitched what the doctor told me.
They loved it. They wanted children’s art to hang in their main hallway.
All I had to do was present the art, framed and ready to hang. I spent most of the year collecting the ‘best’ art. It was a labor of love. Children were vested. Everyone was excited.
When the big day arrived, the press was there, along with children and families, the hospital president and chief nursing officer. We made the front page of the newspaper.
Years went by. Everyone loved the hallway art. Yes, it made patients feel good. Then one day it was gone. No one called me or let me know. The art was taken down and replaced with something that looked cold and stark. That was a terrible day.
I spent the next few years contacting people at the hospital. Everyone was sympathetic, yet no one knew what happened to the art. I had people at the hospital search the storage areas. I gave them pictures of the art to help in their search.
Nothing.
On the first day of school this year for teachers, our director called me out of the meeting. Some man had arrived with a box of art for me. Yes! The lost art had been found, and thank goodness my name was on the box so he could deliver it to school.
Did I scream and jump for joy? No. Did I cry and touch the art? Yes.
My next job was to contact families and children to get their art. To my great surprise, the children – now fifteen to seventeen years old – remembered their art. Really! They were thrilled.
Here are the ‘now teenagers’, and where they are in the newspaper photo:
Now and then.
The photo was included in the newspaper.
His owl art is top right.
She is the child on the far right.
She is third from the right.
He is the first child on the left.
He is second from the left.
The children keep coming to get their art. Honestly, I have no words. I think the pictures and art speak for themselves. Who knew teenagers would remember their art? My heart is full.
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. yes, children always remember their art and these artists shared their art to help other children.
I knew you would be over the moon, Beth. Yes, they always remember their art, and their art helped so many people at the hospital. Still, coming face-to-face with those children has been wonderful, and very moving. .
What a wonderful story. I was so afraid the pictures had been thrown away. I love the before and after photos. Those teenagers look so proud of their work.
Their proud look says it all. The before and after photos are the best! I had given up hope after years of trying. See, there is always hope, and always a light at the end of the tunnel. I’m so glad you enjoyed this story, Darlene. Thank you!
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Jennie, I LOVE this post!! It is inspired to have children’s art in a hospital, an idea you took and ran with! Why would the hospital take them down, and in the process lose them!! By the time you write about the box delivery I was on tenterhooks, just hoping for good news. Bless, all safely returned and even more special to reunite the art pieces with the original creators. The teenagers look so happy with their work of art and I’m not surprised they remember – I have a feeling their year with you is instilled in their hearts and minds! Many thanks for sharing this precious post. Xx ❤️
Thank you, Annika! Your comments are spot on – just how everything unfolded for better and for worse – and just how the ‘now’ teenagers embraced their art. Your comments capture everything. Thank you so much!! 🥰
What a wonderful story, Jennie. It’s a shame the hospital took it down, but I’m glad you and the children got it back!
It was quite a story over many years, with a happy ending. Thank you Dan!
Such a heart warmer, here!
Thanks, Annette!
I love it!
I’m so glad! Thanks, GP.
Yet another example, Jen, of the lasting effects you and your teaching have on all those generations of your students.
That’s so nice, Alice. Thank you!
Talk about a powerful ‘before and after’ story! Plus a bonus boost for teens who often hesitate to smile during those years…Bless you, teacher.
It was powerful, Laura, and so good for the teens. Many thanks!!
What a wonderful thing!! I’m so glad they found the art and the children are getting it back.
Thank you, Deborah!
You’re welcome ☺️
Sweet story, Jennie. Except for the jerks that deemed to take it down.
Thank you, Don. ‘Jerks’ is an excellent descriptive word!
Has anyone told you how amazing you are today? Or am I the first? Just wow.
Awww…🥰 Thank you, Jacqui!
What a lovely story! It reminds us of the importance of art to growing young minds. But it’s also a welcome bit of relief from the seemingly unrelenting barrage of negative news. Thank you!
I feel exactly the same way! Thank you, Barb.
This is a story that could never be invented, and warms the heart of anyone reading it. Your blog continues to inspire and delight everyone in our blogging community, Jennie.
Best wishes, Pete.
You can’t make up this stuff. Thank you for your heartwarming words, dear Pete. If I can inspire and delight among our wonderful blogging community, then I’m blessed.
Sweet story, Jennie. Making people happy over and over.
Thanks so much, Anneli!
What a great story, Jennie. It is so warm to think these teen remembered doing the art and wanting to have it back.
It really is so warm, John. I’m still pinching myself and smiling. Thank you.
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Great story, Jen. Very heartwarming in several fronts. I have a couple of pieces that my kids did in elementary school and they still bring joy to look at them
Your kids’ story is exactly why I teach, love art. love kids…it’s a long and wonderful list. Thank you, Steve. I’m so glad you liked this story. It really is wonderful.
Your ‘artists’ will have their art work memory for a lifetime. 👍!
That’s so nice, Steve. Happy Thanksgiving!
This is wonderful Jennie all those years and then the drawings came home and guess what the artists did too 💜💜 how wonderful Jennie 💜
Yes! Thank you, Willow. It was SO wonderful, back then when they made the art, and now when they rediscovered their art. And they remembered! 💕
Its all credit to you Jennie 💜😍😍
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Memories like that should never be forgotten.
Spot on, Pam. Thank you!
Oh, it doesn’t surprise me at all that teenagers would remember their preschool art on display at the hospital to make people feel better. That special initiative was something a child doesn’t forget.
I’m glad to hear you say that, Liz. Thank you!
You’re welcome, Jennie!
Best story I’ve read this month, Jennie. Those kids didn’t forget their art or their special teacher.
By the way, if you’ve never seen the movie Patch Adams starring Robin Williams, you need to. Trust me, you’ll understand the connection to that movie and this story. It’s all about bringing joy to those in joyless situations.
Pete, I knew you would feel that way. Thank you! I am still pinching myself and smiling. Each child has come in at a different time and mostly alone, so I’ve had the pleasure of one-on-one. More kids to come, and the smiles and joy are infectious and so important. This is one for the ‘history books’ in my class.
Yes, I have seen the movie Patch Adams. It is wonderful, and….I have often thought how I’d do the same thing. Really!
This is a lovely and beautiful story, Jennie!
Thank you, Miriam!
Oh my goodness, this warms my heart as well. I’d be a little sad at the long wait too. If you had moved or the children had, the outcome could have been so different. Lots of places are being taken over to be more cash efficient vs heart efficient. I’m glad the art was found and those teenagers got a glimpse back into their childhood.
Yes, if I had moved, all would have been lost. I was happily surprised that the teenagers were genuinely excited to get their art back. As you can imagine, my heart is very full, and I’m glad yours is, too. Thank you, Marlene!
Wonderful and lovely post Jennie. So nice to see the children with their drawings.
Thank you, Kamal!
While going through your words my feelings fluctuates from sadness to happiness; former when I read all the paintings were lost and latter when I read all the paintings were found.
This story also gives a message not to forget the child within us; who is active, ambitious, creative, curious, faithful, impartial, kind, pleasant, polite, sincere, sensitive, amiable, charismatic, enthusiastic and who is surrounded with positive aura. And if we cherish the child within us, surely, it will help us to deal in difficult situation.🥰
Well said, and thank you.
Oh, Jennie. What a beautiful heart-touching story. I just love your energy and your ability to make your inspiration a reality, over and over again. The photos of the teenagers with their childhood art are amazing. And of course they remember!!!
That’s so nice, Diana! Thank you for your lovely words. I’ll always remember the miracle of finding the art and the big smiles on the teenagers.
A delightful story, Jennie. I still have a lot of Michael’s young art and you’ve given me an idea.
I’m so glad! Many thanks.
Hugs
Always welcome dear Jennie 🙏😊🙏
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I love this story. So sweet to see these teenagers so happy to see their art. As one who works with teens daily this does my heart good!
A teacher touches eternity…she never knows where her influence ends.
You can appreciate inspiring teens. Your words on a teacher touching eternity is true! Many thanks.
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Hi Jennie, thank you for this lovely post!
I’m so glad you liked it, Charles!
First, what a great idea to display the children’s art. Bravo for thinking of that. Second, how sad they took the art down. But I’m glad they returned it to you and to the artists.
I’m glad the idea to hang the art clicked, and worked. It was so sad and a shock when they took it down, but what a wonderful reunion for those teenagers. It’s still happening. Thank you so much, and Happy Thanksgiving!
What a beautiful thing to hang children’s art in hospitals. And a blessing the art was returned to you too. You are certainly an earth angel Jennie. ❤
You are always having so wonderful ideas, Jennie! Great work, the children never will forget! xx Michael
Thanks so much, Michael. This story will always be a favorite memory.
How wonderful that the children, now teens, were able to reconnect with their masterpieces. How sad that someone who obviously has no idea about feelings of patients and visitors took it upon themselves to take down the joyful art collection, especially without letting the artists know. Thanks for sharing this story.
This will become one of my favorite teaching moments, both creating the art show in the first place, and loosing and then finding. How someone could think that stark, cold art is better for patients to see…sigh! Thank you, Carla.