During Worldwide LAM Awareness Month, we celebrate those who bring our community together through their stories, talents, and advocacy. Jaclyn Janis is an artist, nurse, researcher, and member of the LAM community whose journey reflects an important truth: progress happens through connection.

At The LAM Foundation, we believe in the power of Cure Through Connection. Whether it is connecting patients with one another, linking researchers with new discoveries, or helping the world better understand LAM, every connection moves us closer to a cure. Jaclyn’s story is a beautiful example of that idea in action.

Before becoming a full-time artist, Jaclyn built a career in healthcare and public health research. As a nurse and researcher, she spent years helping others and contributing to scientific understanding. When she was diagnosed with LAM, she faced many of the same questions and uncertainties that others in our community experience. During that difficult time, she reconnected with a lifelong passion: art.

What began as a creative outlet soon became something much more. Through printmaking, Jaclyn found a way to process her experiences, express herself, and connect with others. Her artwork, inspired by the landscapes and wildlife of Maine, invites viewers to pause, reflect, and appreciate the beauty around them. Each piece is carefully designed and handcrafted, reflecting patience, persistence, and hope.

When Radio Maine asked Jaclyn for an interview as a member of the Portland Art Gallery, she took advantage of the opportunity to be featured as an artist and to share her LAM journey.

This Worldwide LAM Awareness Month, we celebrate Jaclyn Janis for sharing her talents and her story with the world. Thank you, Jaclyn, for helping spread awareness of LAM and for demonstrating the power of Cure Through Connection. Your journey reminds us that when we come together—patients, families, researchers, clinicians, and advocates—we move closer to a future without LAM.

Here more about Jaclyn’s story here:  
https://radiomaine.com/episodes/the-unexpected-path-back-to-art-portland-art-gallery-artist-jaclyn-janis.html.