A Bay area mother is using art to express appreciation to the hospital staff that recently helped care for her son.

  • Son treated at St. Joseph's Hospital for more than 8 months
  • Mother became close to staff, used photos to hand draw 45 portraits
  • Son now out of hospital, still requires home care

Kiem Le became extremely close to the staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital after her son suffered a brain injury. She was with them day and night for more than eight months.

During that time, the staff didn’t know Kiem was hiding an extraordinary talent she planned to use as in order to express her gratitude for their efforts.

"Here everybody cares for the patient with all their hearts, all love," Le said.

Kiem Le took small head shots that were hanging on a hospital wall and turned them into beautiful works of art. Le drew 45 portraits of the 45 faces that helped care for her son.

Kiem Le hand drew these 45 portraits of the staff at St. Joseph's Hospital to show her gratitude for their efforts to help her son. (Katie Jones, staff)

"'Speechless' is what everybody has been like when they walk in the room, it's just amazing," Nurse Manager Stacy Bush said.

"I understand and I feel how hard nurses work," Le said.

Kiem Le said the staff gave her support and made her feel safe during some of the darkest days. It is something Bush said is a priority with all patients.

"We bring a tremendous amount of skill and knowledge every day to work, but we also bring our hearts here," Bush said. "It's so meaningful that she took her skill and her talent and poured her heart into this amazing act of gratitude."

Kiem Le’s son is out of the hospital, but still receives at-home care.