Young Artist Gives Gift from the Heart to MyMichigan Medical Center Midland
Center, Vera Foco-Frantz, mom, Nicole Foco, dad, Chris Frantz, and grandfather, Robert Foco pose with MyMichigan Medical Center President, Chuck Sherwin, Cardiovascular Surgeon, Tayfun Gurbuz, M.D. and other MyMichigan Medical Center SICU and cardiovascular surgical team members.
When nine-year-old Vera Foco-Frantz watched two people she loves undergo heart surgery within months of one another, she found comfort in something she knows well – creating art.
Now, the young artist is turning that experience into a heartfelt thank-you to the caregivers who helped her father and grandfather return home healthy.
Vera presented a fused glass heart she created for MyMichigan Medical Center Midland to show her gratitude for the care her father, Chris Frantz, and grandfather, Robert Foco, received during their heart surgeries and recoveries. Both underwent bypass surgery performed by Cardiac Surgeon Tayfun Gurbuz, M.D., and recovered in the Medical Center’s Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU).
Vera's Fused Glass Heart
For Vera and her mother, Nicole Foco, seeing two members of their family face major heart surgery was an emotional experience. Vera began drawing hearts as a way to work through her feelings and worries. One of those sketches eventually became the inspiration for the fused glass piece she is donating to the Medical Center.
“Vera was understandably worried when both her dad and grandpa needed heart surgery,” Foco said. “Creating art became a way for her to process what was happening. She wanted to do something to thank the people who took such wonderful care of them.”
Today, nearly six and twelve months following their surgeries, Frantz and Foco are both doing exceptionally well – something their family credits in part to the compassionate and skilled care they received throughout their treatment and recovery.
The idea for Vera’s gift also grew from her grandfather’s time in the hospital. As he recovered, Foco often walked the third floor and enjoyed viewing artwork displayed near the SICU. Knowing how much those pieces meant to him during his recovery inspired Vera to create something that could someday offer encouragement to another patient or family.
The resulting fused glass heart represents gratitude, healing and the love of a family that has experienced firsthand the importance of exceptional heart care close to home.
Along with her artwork, Vera prepared a card thanking the physicians, advanced practice providers and SICU staff who cared for her family. In describing why she wanted to recognize them, Vera shared a simple but meaningful observation: the work they do every day is its own form of art.
“Vera’s gift is incredibly meaningful because it reminds us that the care provided within our walls reaches far beyond an individual patient,” said Denise O’Keefe, executive director, MyMichigan Health Foundation. “It touches spouses, children, grandchildren and entire families. Seeing Vera take something that was frightening for her and transform it into something so beautiful is very special. We are honored to receive her heart and even more honored that her family entrusted us with the care of two people she loves so dearly.”
Vera is already an accomplished young artist. She creates fused glass artwork and will exhibit her work at the Ann Arbor Art Fair. But this piece carries a meaning unlike any other she has created.
For the Foco-Frantz family, it is more than a piece of art. It is a thank-you. It is a celebration of two successful recoveries. And, from one young artist to a team of caregivers, it is truly a gift from the heart.
Those interested in learning more about heart and vascular services at MyMichigan Health, may visit www.mymichigan.org/heart.
