How Painting Helped an Air Force Veteran Recover Her Sense of Self

Cheri Carandanis spent her career caring for others as an Air Force nurse and later in hospice. After two brain injuries forced her to retire, she had to face life without the role that once defined her. What began as a simple attempt to follow medical advice led her to something unexpected: painting. Through it, she found healing, direction, and a deeper understanding of herself. In this episode, Cheri talks about growing up in a military family, serving through deployments, and learning to rebuild after loss. Her story is a reminder that recovery takes time, creativity can be medicine, and there's always a way forward, even when life throws you a curveball. Timestamps: 04:00 - What deployment is like for a nurse 10:00 - Life on an early base in Afghanistan. Chaos, humor, and teamwork 15:00 - The brain injuries that ended her nursing career 17:30 - Picking up a paintbrush for the first time and finding peace 30:00 - Why she now sees the injury as a turning point, not an ending Links & Resources Veteran Suicide & Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1 Website: https://www.carandanisfineart.com Follow Cheri Carandanis on Facebook: www.facebook.com/carandanisfineart Follow Cheri Carandanis on Instagram: www.instagram.com/carandanisfineart Transcript View the transcript for this episode.