A TRIBUTE TO 3 INCREDIBLE YOUNG PEOPLE
JENNA LOWE | NATALIE COHEN A| CRAIG BROWN
We received these beautiful benches from Shirley Tobias, owner of Art for All. Shirley has raised funds for the hospital through her various art groups.The benches were painted by Shirley’s art groups.
We would like to convey our heartfelt thanks on behalf of everyone at the hospital for the exquisitely painted benches received in memory of Jenna Lowe, Craig Brown and Natalie Cohen, who so bravely fought their illnesses and will now always be remembered at Maitland Cottage Hospital. One cannot help but think of these 3 brave young people every time one looks at these benches.
The following is from Craig, Jenna and Natalie’s mom’s.
JENNA – In 2012 teenager, Jenna Lowe, was diagnosed with an extremely rare lung disease called Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Even with this debilitating illness Jenna became an active campaigner to raise awareness for this degenerative, life-threatening condition. Bright, beautiful and eloquent, Jenna demonstrated exceptional leadership and courage throughout her three and half year battle with her illness and helped change the landscape of Pulmonary Hypertension in South Africa. She also made (and her legacy continues to make) a massive social impact on the dire state of organ donation in SA with her internationally acclaimed and award-winning #Getmeto21 campaign that significantly increased organ donor registration.
Tragically Jenna passed away in June 2015; but her work continues.
Visit the Jenna Lowe Trust at to find out more about the incredible legacy she is leaving. www.jennalowe.org
or https://www.getmeto21.com/ to sign up as an organ donor.
NATALIE – https://www.facebook.com/nataliescircleoflove/?fref=ts
Natalie was 10 years old when she was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer that affected her spine. Her love of nature, art, reading and animals was a source of inspiration and joy throughout her difficult journey with Chordoma. She spent many months in hospital in America where she had surgery to remove 7 vertebrae from her thoracic spine and earned enormous respect for her determination to relearn to sit, stand, walk and eventually, even run! Whether she was in hospital or at home, Natalie’s space was always filled with Art & Design, some by her own creation and some gifted by Natalie’s Circle of Love – a global community inspired by her courage, grace and determination to live a creative life. Some of the happiest times were art making sessions with her friends and she especially loved visits from her much-loved art teacher, Shirley Tobias, who had a special connection with Natalie and mentored her creativity with so much love, gratitude and respect.
Towards the end of her life Natalie was drawn to dragonflies which in almost every part of the world, symbolise change and self realisation
Although a cure was not possible for Natalie, thanks to the incredible support of her Circle of Love, she experienced profound healing and a deep, enduring sense of connection that transcends her time on earth. Like the iridescent dragonfly, Natalie reflected the beauty she saw in the world and her humour, poise, personal power and creativity remain an inspiration to us all.
A photo of Natalie is attached
CRAIG – Craig was always very small in stature,but with an enormous zest for life which is why I chose the quote from Dr Seuss “A person’s a person no matter how small”, . ( He also acted in Seussical the Musical, as the baby kangaroo from “Horton Hears a Who ” , just before he was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the age of 12). He died 8 months later, a time during which his positivity,courage and sense of humour really came to the fore.