Geelong dialysis patient with terminal cancer heals through cartoons
Rob Lymer, 68, creates cartoons at his dialysis clinic while facing terminal cancer.
Rob Lymer has spent two years as a dialysis patient at Barwon Health in Geelong. The retired cleaner draws sharp, quirky cartoons that now line the clinic walls.
Some are whimsical; others are poignant. One shows nurses ready to catch Humpty Dumpty falling off a wall.
Each Friday during his year of home dialysis, he would email staff a new cartoon for "Friday Funnies". His work connects with patients in hard times, showing both humour and the real struggles of chronic illness.
Lymer has completed his second annual calendar of his work, on sale to raise money for the dialysis unit. Three months ago he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.
Fellow patients say his cartoons help them feel less alone.
- 2 years at Barwon Health
- Patient tenure
- Belmont
- Grandfather's home
Why it mattersHis creativity shows how art and humour can help people cope with serious illness and build connection in a medical setting.
AustraliaLymer's work demonstrates how Australian healthcare settings can be humanised through patient creativity, and how one person's generosity lifts others facing illness.
Corroborated bytheage.com.au·watoday.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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