Thousand Origami Cranes Donated to Benefis Sletten Cancer Institute

Members of the Church of the Incarnation donated cranes to Benefis Sletten Cancer Institute as well wishes for healing. Photo credit Benefis Health System A chandelier of 1,000 folded paper cranes is now hanging in the atrium of Benefis Sletten Cancer Institute. A beam of sunlight caught the art piece just after the recent installation and illuminated the charms of peace doves, the tree of life, a cross, a Japanese fan, and other symbols at the bottom of each chain. Artist Sara Quay and members of the Church of the Incarnation folded cranes every Tuesday from May 7. Members of that Episcopal church prayed as they folded the pieces to send along their healing wishes for those going through cancer treatment. The gift is "about finding peace in the world, peace in yourself, and peace in your relationships with others" and "hope for healing," Quay said. Quay's father served in the Navy during World War II and came ashore in Japan after the Aug. 6 and Aug. 9, 1945, atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. What he saw broke his heart. He later became friends with several Japanese people, and they sent him 1,000 cranes as he succumbed to cancer. Among those caught in the atomic attack was a 2-year-old named Sadako Sasaki, who later developed leukemia, likely as a result of radiation exposure. She began folding cranes during her cancer treatment as a wish to live. She died at 16, but her friends carried on folding cranes in her honor and dedicated them as a prayer for peace. It's become a worldwide movement since. "This is love, peace, heart, inclusion, and beauty," Sara said. Quay is offering SCI patients the opportunity to fold cranes with her as it's a meditative practice. She also has set aside origami cranes that people may take as a gift. The atrium at SCI has hosted a flock of paper cranes since its beginning. In 2005 and inspired by Sadako's story, Dee Haddock, a psychology teacher at Great Falls High School, and her students folded 1,001 cranes to decorate the first SCI Christmas tree. Within the folds of each crane was the name of a donor, who through their donation helped provide hope to patients. An additional 1,001 cranes were strung from the lampposts in the Healing Garden. Some of those cranes remain near the waterfall feature to inspire hope to all who visit.