Embracing Healing: My Journey After Brain Surgery
This past August, I faced a life-changing experience when I underwent brain surgery to remove an unexpected meningioma tumor. It was an experience that demanded more than physical endurance; it called me to pause, reflect, and realign with the deep currents of healing and spirituality that have always informed my life and my art. It’s strange how the body can whisper its needs until suddenly, in a moment of crisis, it demands one's full attention.
Before the surgery, I was busy (still am ;). I was managing multiple projects, teaching, organizing, and creating. Each day was filled with deadlines, with movement, and the sense that I needed to keep pushing forward. The diagnosis came like a shock—reminding me that even the strongest of us are not invincible. But what followed was even more surprising: the power of stillness, surrender, and the radical act of self-care.
The surgery itself was a test of vulnerability, but it was also an invitation to lean into the community around me. Family, friends, collaborators, and even those I have yet to meet directly sent waves of support that carried me through. Their prayers, messages, and healing thoughts wrapped me in a collective warmth that reminded me that I am never alone on this path. It is one thing to work for the community; it is another to be held by that same community in moments of need. I am forever grateful for this reciprocity.
The surgery itself was a test of vulnerability, but it was also an invitation to lean into the community around me. Family, friends, collaborators, and even those I have yet to meet directly sent waves of support that carried me through. Their prayers, messages, and healing thoughts wrapped me in a collective warmth that reminded me that I am never alone on this path. It is one thing to work for the community; it is another to be held by that same community in moments of need. I am forever grateful for this reciprocity.
This period of healing has also opened new dimensions of creativity for me. Slowing down has allowed me to reimagine the ways I approach my work. I’ve started integrating more rituals of mindfulness into my practice, taking time to breathe deeply before every brushstroke, or meditation before visualizing new ideas for public art projects. I am redefining my process to reflect the importance of care, both for myself and for the communities I support.
I share this journey not just to recount my experience, but in the hopes that it will resonate with others who may be navigating their own challenges—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. In a world that often demands constant productivity and forward motion, it’s crucial to remember that our greatest transformations often come when we allow ourselves to pause, heal, and reconnect with our inner wisdom.
As I continue to recover and work on current projects and new works, I am grateful for the reminder to heal and to deepen my connection to the people, stories, and land that inspire me. My art and practice will be informed by this moment—infused with the resilience and reflection that comes from embracing the fullness of the human experience.
As I move forward in my recovery, there remains a lingering uncertainty about what the future holds and what form my condition may take. While the surgery was successful, I recognize that healing is an ongoing process, one that comes with unknowns. There may be moments of doubt, new challenges, or shifts in how my body and mind respond, but I am learning to live with this uncertainty and vulnerability more each day. Rather than fear it, I choose to embrace it as part of the journey, knowing that each step will reveal itself in its own time.
In healing solidarity,
Ngoc-Tran Vu
