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Woodlands radiation oncologist creates original painting for patient to hang in firehouse

By: Liz Grimm
| Published 07/25/2018

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THE WOODLANDS, Texas — When battling cancer, it’s inevitable that you develop close bonds with your care team. That was the case for Michael Briggs who was under the care of radiation oncologist Peter B. Morgan, M.D. at Houston Methodist Cancer Center at The Woodlands.

Briggs is the Fire Chief of the Plantersville-Stoneham Volunteer Fire Department. During a routine treatment visit, he mentioned to Morgan that an old print that once hung in the firehouse had become damaged by water and had to be taken down. It was of an American flag with a firefighter helmet in front of it. He explained how that simple print always meant a lot to him and the rest of the crew, and how sad they were to have lost it.

It turns out that Morgan is a painter, and after he shared a couple of his works with Briggs and his mother, who often joins him at appointments, they asked him if he would paint something to replace the print in the firehouse.

“Given my busy schedule and the fact that I have young children, I was initially reluctant,” explained Morgan. “But after a week, I think God just really put it on my heart to do this. These guys brought in the old, damaged print to show me and they encouraged me to create something similar.”

Morgan, however, decided to paint his own version of the print. “They put their lives on the line with very dangerous work, and I wanted to honor these guys and do what I could to support what they do,” he said.

Morgan combined distressed oak planks in the exact dimensions of the American flag. The 45- pound wood stain and acrylic painting, entitled “Brotherhood,” features the American flag prominently as the background with silhouettes of the backs of four firefighters in the foreground, going to work together – walking toward the American flag. It also features the Plantersville-Stoneham’s fire patch on one of the firefighter’s protective uniforms.

“I felt the painting really showed the patriotism of the team and, in my eyes, captured the brotherhood shared by the team and some of the darkness they face in their job as they so often put their lives in harm’s way to protect the rest of us,” explained Morgan. On July 12, Morgan unveiled his replica painting, much to the delight and appreciation of Briggs as well as others in the cancer center. “This is absolutely amazing! I wasn’t expecting anything like this, and I am totally humbled by everything. It’s awesome. Thank you, Dr. Morgan,” said Briggs. Briggs later said the painting is now hanging in the day room at the fire station, and that the crew “just loves it.”

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