During our many groups and workshops, our participants often speak of how "being sick" becomes a full time job. Everything changes, their lives are altered.

In our workshops we have explored making "altered pill bottles." Changing something that is so meaningful to survival, knowing how the pills alter our lives by helping us stay well - allows us to relate to the everyday experience of illness and to express our creative spirit.

While creating the "altered pill bottles" one participant placed a "wig" on the bottle cap while thinking of hair loss related to cancer treatments. Another patient said her bottle represented the body healing within from the chemistry of the pills. She placed green ribbon around the bottle to represent the flow of life in the body. Another woman created a sailboat, filled with rocks and feathers. The pill bottle was painted gold and placed in the middle. Coming out of the bottle is a banner which reads: "Go this way, Stop, Danger, Rescue, Cure, Life, Death.

A simple object - a pill bottle. Yet, filled with so much meaning and hope.