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“If you need help, don’t be afraid to ask for it. Get a second, third, fourth opinion; don’t give up, and don’t take no for an answer.” – Maggie Yee

No words can fully capture a person’s life or the grief that comes when someone is taken too soon. Maggie Yee, a mixed-media artist based in Santa Cruz, California, faced this heartbreak in July 2024, when her daughter, Kimberly Connors, lost her battle with ovarian cancer.

An artist herself, Kim was a jewelry maker who found magic in the mundane. A good meal, a flower on the side of the road, a butterfly passing by – these small moments affirmed for Kim the quiet beauty found in life’s often overlooked details. Quick to laugh and brimming with creativity, she approached the world with an artist’s eye for wonder.

Moving through an unfathomable loss, Maggie created “Kimberly’s PSA,” a mixed-media work of art that serves as both a tribute to her daughter and an embodiment of her grief. The piece is also a powerful and sobering reminder of the importance of health education and self-advocacy when navigating healthcare.

The artwork incorporates deeply personal elements of Kim’s life – materials from her jewelry making, a dress of hers, and imagery inspired by the flowers and butterflies in which she found quiet enchantment. At its center is a delicate yet striking embroidered rendition of Kim’s uterus. Through texture, color, and form, Maggie weaves together love, loss, and the urgent call for awareness.

Too many women have been lost to inaccurate and untimely diagnoses. Too many have had their symptoms dismissed or minimized, and too many are left without the information they need to advocate for themselves within the healthcare system.

Kimberly was so much more than her diagnosis. Through this piece, her story becomes both remembrance and rallying cry, a reminder of the life behind the statistics and the countless women whose voices must be heard.

To learn more about Maggie’s artistry and to view more of her work, please visit www.maggieyee.com.