As this unfortunate news missed many in our community this fall, I wanted to share the passing of dear Donna Kuhn, who died from undiagnosed stomach cancer this September.
A resident of Northern California, Donna joined the Chronic Market a year and a half ago, and we immediately connected over our shared stories with ME/CFS. She had been sick for four decades to my almost two; I had been sidelined from boxing and African dance among a gazillion other physical hobbies; she had to quit her own joyful work as an aerobics instructor and also recounted attempts at African dance before she accepted that she was physically unable (it took her a decade to get diagnosed). But we connected the most on the solace and joy we got from creating.
Donna’s art was edgy, wild and weird; her dada videos bore titles like “war is a stupid song” and “You Bring Bird Feelings” looked like Talking Heads videos on acid. Her first offering to the Chronic Market was this wild art doll picture here that looked like it would conjure your fiercest ancestor and avenge their deaths. (Donna donated it for an ME/CFS art auction and film screening I organized in 2023.) Jewelry, dolls, greeting cards, magnets, wearable art, digital works, writing… Donna had eclectic talents and was generous with sharing them. The second image here was a card she made for another chronically ill person through our art card exchange.
Sadly, I only learned of her death after an order went unfulfilled and emails unanswered. With patients like Donna already suffering from such a barrage of daily symptoms from ME/CFS and related conditions, and all of the difficulties accessing care, it isn’t unusual for a serious new condition to go undetected and untreated; I’m devastated that it took Donna’s life, a life that she fought for to create meaning and beauty for herself and others. For now, Donna’s website remains active at donnakuhn.com.
