South Bend Tribune Article

April 6, 2005

Treating the funny bone
Nurse finds her art and comics are making a difference

By SHARON DETTMER
South Bend Tribune Correspondent

LAKESIDE -- It's a struggle being a registered nurse-turned-artist.

When MK Czerwiec cares for patients or takes their pain away, there's an immediate, positive feedback, she explains.

"I can make them more comfortable, or make a difficult day go better. Obviously, I do know that the work of a nurse matters. I have an instant feedback from patients saying, 'I feel better.' "

It's not so with art, though, it seems.

When the artist creates her comics, Giclée prints or watercolor paintings, there's no immediate feedback.

"I'm constantly struggling with the thought, 'Maybe I should go start some IVs or something,' " Czerwiec says, smiling.

That particular thought remained with her until the 38-year-old nurse, who has been on leave from Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center since 2003, received an e-mail from a physician about her art.

The doctor, who had worked at an emergency room near the World Trade Center when disaster struck the twin towers on Sept. 11, 2001, had visited her Web site at www.comicnurse.com.

The physician told her that he had moved to Connecticut because living in New York City reminded him daily of the disaster.

Recovering from the trauma was difficult, he said.

"He told me that looking at my art was helping him to heal," Czerwiec said. "That thought will sustain me for a while," she noted. "I wrote the cartoon (titled 'Faithing') wondering if it did matter. Now several years later, here's someone who is telling me it does."

The Comic Nurse earned a bachelor's of arts in English and philosophy from Loyola University in Chicago before she decided to pursue a nursing career.

Philosophical comics fill the pages of her publications such as "Scars Stories and other Adventures." And so do her memorable nursing experiences.

Czerwiec earned a bachelor's of science in nursing from Rush University College of Nursing. But while she was on her first clinical rotation at Rush University Medical Center, her father, John Czerwiec, unexpectedly died. He was a Notre Dame alumnus from Oakbrook, Ill., who suffered a massive stroke later in life, while his daughter, MK, was in high school.

After his death, it was difficult for her to work on the general medical floor at the medical center, which was often filled with elderly, bedridden patients.

"I told my instructor, 'I can't do this. It's just too hard emotionally,' " she said. "I told her I would have to drop out."

Czerwiec almost left the nursing program, but was persuaded to stay by her instructor.

"She took me over to the medical center's AIDS unit. They needed help there. The patients were younger and didn't remind me of my dad. It worked for me, absolutely," Czerwiec said.

She worked with AIDS patients for six years, and is writing a graphic memoir about the experiences she shared with patients.

A childlike humor adds a refreshing dimension to her comics. And that's not by accident, but by design.

"I'm influenced by the uninhibited perspectives of children. They're so honest, and everything doesn't have to make perfect sense to them."

She lives in Lakeside, Mich., and the Lincoln Square neighborhood in Chicago, with her partner and their dog, Alice.

Czerwiec and Alice participate in the "Sit, Stay, Read" program for schoolchildren in Chicago.

"We go into underperforming schools and have kids read to dogs. I do illustrations for books that are written by the schoolchildren. They write the stories," she said.

After all, Czerwiec says, everyone wants to reach for the stars, one way or another.

"We are infinite spirits housed in finite bodies -- leaving us grounded, yet reaching."

For further information about the art of MK Czerwiec, visit her Web site at www.comicnurse.com.