We invite you to join us in a monthly exchange of letters and art work between adults coping with illness and teenagers (and sometimes medical students) coping with life.    > more info

What is the Firefly Project and WHO DO I CONTACT?
A monthly exchange of letters (hand-written or typed) along with a simple drawing, collage, cartoon, or any art work that can be added to your monthly exchange to your pen pal. CONTACT: CINDY PERLIS, 415.885.7221 OR Email cynthia.perlis@ucsfmedctr.org for information and to sign up.

Who participates?
Participants are adults coping with a life-threatening illness and healthy teenagers coping with life. Medical Students/Nursing students participate as well. The teens/patients are from all over the Bay Area.

What does it involve?
Once a month (or every six weeks depending on holidays) you will respond to letters/art work sent to you. The students will receive the letters either hand delivered by me at school or sent through the mail. Mostly, the patients will receive them in the mail with a stamped self-addressed envelop Ð back to me, Cindy Perlis, and a note with information about the Project and the date when your response is due in my office at UCSF Mount Zion. Your are asked to write a thoughtful, personal letter and create a simple art work. Your time involvement is about two hours once a month.

What is the Healing Service?
At the end of the school year (in early May) you will be invited to meet your pen pal for the first time after writing to them all year. Students will be asked to tell what this experience has meant. Patients will be asked to bring a symbol of healing to present to your students.

What is the Adaptation?
During the past five years we have adapted the conversations in the letters into a script. Both the students and participating adults (patients) will read the final adaptation on stage (script in hand).

Why should I participate in this project?
The adults will have the opportunity to become a mentor to a student, helping them to deal with all the issues and drama that are part of their lives. If you are writing to a teenager or Medical Student you will have the opportunity to share your experience and openly express how you feel. Everyone will all learn about empathy and compassion and be reminded of how valuable life really is. The Students will have the opportunity to create a friendship with someone who is not in their "world" and be able to talk about their life experiences and to learn how illness is part of living.