Art-22 | Gallery: Kindness, Trust, Inclusion | Healing HeARTS | Art on Campus | UC Davis Health

This embroidery represents the traditional Ukrainian art form. It depicts a tree of life with a border of viburnum berries which symbolize fertility. I embroidered this picture when I moved to the US, with no family in this country. This embroidery became a symbol of transitioning my tree of life into the new soil, and building my own family far away from my homeland. Before immigrating, I expected to give up my language and culture in the US. It was a big surprise to me that I was able to not only keep my language and culture, but also develop them further into a career. UC Davis Health was the family that accepted me, gave me a purpose, and appreciated my skills. Today, UC Davis Health continues on the path of inclusion by accepting patients and employees from war-torn regions of the world, like my homeland — Ukraine. I am forever grateful to be a part of the UC Davis Health family!—Elena Morrow