Laughs 4 Life Unveils Uplifting Mural at Forrest General Cancer Center

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – (May 22, 2024) Cancer patients often walk a long and uncertain path. Hattiesburg’s Laughs 4 Life wants to provide these patients encouragement along their journey. On Wednesday, May 22, a sidewalk mural to inspire cancer patients, was unveiled in front of the Forrest General Cancer Center.

The mural, created by Hattiesburg artist, Lissa Ortego, is titled The Path Well Traveled, and features ribbons representing the different types of cancer conveying messages about the journey of cancer. The sentiments of the sidewalk mural are intended to not only uplift patients, but also to inspire the healthcare workers who bravely face the cancer battle alongside their patients on a daily basis. Ortego hopes the following phrases used in the mural will be beacons of hope and support:

"You are not alone..."

"Many have walked before you..."

"Many will walk with you..."

"Many will walk after you..."

"Your story does not end here..."

"You are loved."

"The path traveled by so many cancer patients is rocky, but it can also be inspiring and uplifting to know that so many others are there by your side,” said Kent Oliver, Laughs 4 Life founder. “Caregivers, healthcare professionals, family, friends, and other patients have walked this path before and will continue to walk this path in the future. The artwork of Lissa Ortego, inspired by our friend, Vickie Hanna, has so beautifully captured this and will continue to serve as a reminder that you are not alone."

“With a city full of beautiful murals, we are excited to add this inspiring piece of art to the Forrest General Cancer Center,” said Millie Swan, Forrest Health vice president. "We hope this mural will uplift not only our patients and healthcare workers, but the many dedicated caregivers and those throughout the Pine Belt who support the Cancer Center in so many ways. We appreciate this donation and others made by Laughs 4 Life.”

The mural is in addition to annual donations made to the FGH Cancer Center from Laughs 4 Life proceeds.

Laughs 4 Life is also dedicating a memory stone to Vickie Hanna, a nurse for more than 45 years, who was employed by Forrest Health for 24 years.  

She began her cancer battle when she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2018. She became the first patient in the world to take part in a multiple myeloma clinical trial at the Forrest General Cancer Center during 2022. She passed away in November 2023.

ABOUT FORREST GENERAL CANCER CENTER

Forrest General Hospital Cancer Center ranks among the largest and most sophisticated cancer treatment centers in South Mississippi. It offers a place where patients can receive advanced care in a beautiful, compassionate environment. Forrest General operates the only comprehensive community Cancer Center in the 19-county service area, and is accredited by the College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. The center features the services of a multidisciplinary team led by medical oncologists/hematologists and radiation oncologists, who provide high quality medical care in a continuum of settings. In addition to medical and radiation oncologists, a complete range of physician specialists provide expertise in diagnoses, surgical removal, disease management and reconstructive procedures.