This artwork, entitled “The Overwhelming Overload”, is part of a collection of 5 pieces created within the scope of a project commemorating the palliative care service of the Portuguese Oncology Institute of Coimbra. The project, called “Cuid’arte”, was an invitation from this service that I accepted with immense honor, allowing me to merge my two worlds: my past as a nurse, especially in the palliative care field, and my present as an artist. It enables the merging of two purposes: creating art with meaning and shedding light on the true nature and importance of palliative care. This artwork follows a chronological order, although not mandatory and not always linear. This is the first piece of this “chronology”.

The artwork portrays the moment when palliative care begins to emerge as the best option in the face of the ineffectiveness of curative treatments. It is a depiction of the point where efforts for cure cease to be effective, resulting only in side effects, frequent hospitalizations, and an overwhelming sense of intrusion for those who feel overwhelmed, vulnerable, and exposed. The artwork raises profound questions about recognizing and accepting the limits of treatment effectiveness. How can we learn to recognize this moment and embrace it, accepting the transition to palliative care with compassion and dignity?