The Friendship Bridge

by Soraya Fata 

Twist Out Cancer is an international nonprofit that provides social and emotional support through creative arts programming to individuals touched by cancer. Its signature program, Brushes with Cancer, pairs “Inspirations”—individuals touched by cancer—with artists for a transformative experience in which the pairs share stories of grief, hope and humanity. The artist is charged with creating a work of art reflective of the Inspiration’s cancer journey. Twistshops offer free, therapist-led workshops that use creative expression to help survivors, caregivers and previvors process emotion, find healing and connect within a supportive community. Twist Hearts invites children, teens and adults to explore the meaning of love and connection through guided creative expression. Together, these programs create a vibrant network where stories are honored, creativity thrives and no one faces cancer alone.

Ericka Weiffenbach heard about Brushes with Cancer through the Breasties Women's Group of Northern Illinois, which she joined after being diagnosed with breast cancer. At the time, she hadn’t shared her diagnosis publicly—she felt isolated and without a community that could relate. Ericka applied to the program and was matched with Anne Marie Morgan.

Anne Marie is a self-taught artist who explores her style through different materials and techniques. “I still think everything I paint is going to be awful,” she says.

Anne Marie’s artistic journey has been shaped by personal health challenges. She began with oil painting and realism, spending months perfecting each piece. After developing complex regional pain syndrome—causing severe nerve pain and weakness—she paused painting while undergoing treatment. When she returned to her art, she embraced water-based mediums, which are unforgiving and unchangeable once applied. This shift into unpredictability helped her release control and mirrored her experience with chronic illness. She began incorporating surrealism, using inks, dyes, acrylics and oils to reflect this evolution.

When Anne Marie met Ericka, she was surprised to learn how recently she’d been diagnosed. In past pairings, she had worked with Inspirations who were post treatment and had time to process. Ericka, however, was still in the middle of her experience, sharing it in real time.

Anne Marie didn’t shy away. Her familiarity with illness, including having a sister who is a breast cancer survivor, gave her the courage to lean in. “Talking to Anne Marie felt like someone giving me an invisible hug,” Ericka said. “It helped me open up—to her and also to my network.”

For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Ericka shared her diagnosis publicly on social media, revealing she would undergo a double mastectomy. The response was immediate and overwhelming. Friends and family rushed in to help—offering rides to appointments, organizing a meal train, launching a GoFundMe and donning “Ericka Support Squad” shirts on her surgery day. Flowers, meals and messages poured in.

“I was astonished at how much support she had, given her initial fears about being alone,” said Anne Marie.

That connection was crucial for Ericka. For her, the hardest part of being a cancer patient wasn’t physical—it was mental. It was watching others live their normal lives while she prepared to say goodbye to her breasts, a deeply personal and redefining moment.

Ericka found a silver lining in the community she built through Brushes with Cancer and her relationship with Anne Marie. Their first meeting over breakfast sparked an immediate connection, and their bond deepened over the months. Listening to others’ stories on Zoom calls with fellow Inspirations helped Ericka feel less alone. Now, more grounded, she says, “If my story can help someone else, I’ve done my job.”

This was Anne Marie’s third time participating as an artist in Brushes with Cancer, but her experience with Ericka stood out. Witnessing someone’s journey unfold in real time—rather than reflecting back on it—was powerful. She was inspired by how many people showed up to help Ericka, both emotionally and practically, and that became the heart of the painting she created.

Titled Friendship-Receptor Positive, the piece features an old brick bridge, covered in moss and surrounded by lush greenery. For Anne Marie, it symbolized strength and endurance. She envisioned the bridge being built brick by brick as Ericka cultivated meaningful relationships throughout her life. In her time of crisis, those loved ones crossed back over the bridge to be by her side.

Subtly, the bridge bears the initials “E” and “W”—not for East and West, but for Ericka Weiffenbach. The misty, bright horizon beyond the bridge signifies what’s to come: hope, light and love. The artwork incorporates all the mediums Anne Marie has explored as an artist—detailed in some areas, fluid and spontaneous in others—telling both her story and Ericka’s.

Ericka’s battle isn’t over, but she’s not walking it alone. The friendship bridge she built over time has proven strong enough to carry others to her side, offering the love and support she once feared she’d never find.

Click here to learn more about Brushes with Cancer and other Twist Out Cancer programs.