Some moments are so rich, so special, that they evolve into art.

Sandy Boggs, of Scott, a wife, mother, actress and cancer survivor, has a vivid memory of one of them.

It was at Sunday morning service in September 2003 in the interior garden of Christ United Methodist Church in Bethel Park, a special place where members can pray with flowers, trees and birds.

	Annie O'Neill, Post-Gazette Cancer survivor Sandy Boggs, left, talks with Judy O'Connor, wife of former Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O'Connor, at the opening of "Oncology on Canvas" art exhibit at Jefferson Regional Medical Center. Click photo for larger image.

Her daughter, Adrienne, then 5, was starting kindergarten and having some difficulty getting adjusted to a school schedule.

"I thought I would take her to the garden service. They were doing the blessing of the backpacks," said Ms. Boggs, a member of the church.

Adrienne was fidgety and wanted to leave. Suddenly, a butterfly landed on her head.

"It limply fell off her and landed on the sidewalk. She put her arms around it to protect it. Another butterfly landed on her head," Ms. Boggs said.

The church sexton grabbed a digital camera and photographed Adrienne and the butterflies, which stayed with her while she was in the garden.

The photo, which was taken right after Ms. Boggs was diagnosed with breast cancer, later became the centerpiece of a piece of artwork that she created for entry into "Oncology on Canvas," an art show created by Eli Lilly and Co. to honor the journeys people face when confronted by a cancer diagnosis.

Ms. Boggs, who has been cancer-free since her double mastectomy Dec. 18, 2003, integrated the photo with an acrylic painting and called the mixed media piece, "Behold ... a New Creation."

It is one of about 50 pieces of art from that international art exhibition honoring the journeys of millions of people affected by cancer worldwide that will be on display at Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Jefferson Hills from May 8-18.

Patty Luptak, director of oncology services for the hospital, said the art would be on display in the hospital lobby, hallways and in the radiation oncology area.

Ms. Luptak said she became interested in the art show when one of the Eli Lilly sales representatives told her about it and showed her a book of the 2004 artwork.

"It was all breast cancer patients. The pictures just blew me away," said Ms. Luptak, an oncology nurse who said her cancer patients were "the most unique group of patients I have ever taken care of."

"They are so appreciative and they gave back as much to you as you give to them," she said.

Ms. Boggs, who entered a piece of art in the 2004 Eli Lilly show, wanted to enter this second show.

This time, she kept thinking about that day when the butterflies landed on her little girl and what an "incredible little blessing" that moment represented.

"I would come across that picture and think that was still the most remarkable event," she said. "It was like an indicator that life goes on and miraculous things happen around you. It was a very big God moment."

When she finished the painting, Ms. Boggs wrote a narrative that spoke about her Christian faith, her healing and her daughter.

"After the double mastectomy, wrapped in surgical dressings, unable to raise my arms, full of mourning for the loss of my breasts, the symbol of womanhood, motherhood, femininity, my faith comforted me," she wrote. "I was reassured by a vision: That of a loving, healing presence always with me, and this photograph of my daughter at church, visited by live Monarch butterflies, was always before me," she wrote.

Ms. Boggs, who is in her 40s, but doesn't want to reveal her age, grew up in Bucyrus, Ohio, came to Pittsburgh to attend the Art Institute and met her husband, John Elion, while doing an internship at the Pittsburgh Public Theater. She works at the Beth El Nursery in Green Tree.

Because of a family history of cancer, she started having mammograms while in her 30s. During a routine checkup in 2003, she got a call from the radiologist saying that her mammogram was suspicious. She had a biopsy and the diagnosis was ductal carcinoma in situ in the left breast.

Doctors recommended a mastectomy of her left breast, but Ms. Boggs decided to have both breasts removed after hearing the doctor say, "Your body knows how to make cancer. It can do it again."

"I didn't want to lose myself piece by piece," she said. "It was very scary. I had a 5-year-old and I wanted to do whatever I can to be there."

"As an artist, I need symmetry. I needed balance in my life," she said of her decision to have a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. She opted for no chemotherapy, because her lymph nodes appeared to be cancer-free. Through it all, she watched funny movies and read humor books.

"One thing I kept saying is that they can't remove my sense of humor," said Ms. Boggs, who feels wonderful and has been cancer-free for four years.

She is pleased to have her work included in the biennial art show sponsored by the pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Co.

More than 2,000 entries from 43 countries were received for this show. About 200 pieces of art were shown in March at the Indiana University Cancer Center in Indianapolis, which is corporate home of Eli Lilly. The art collection now will tour the world.

Judy M. Hall, vice president of the oncology program at Jefferson Regional Medical Center, said the show was a unique opportunity for cancer survivors to talk about their experiences through the medium of art.

"It speaks to the human spirit," she said. "We are very proud to have it come here to Jefferson and proud to show it to our community."