Benjamin Gilkey was Sarah’s nephew. He was a bright, sparkling boy that loved playing jokes, playing games, and sharing his snacks. He fought a valiant battle against Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia for 2 ½ years with the expert and loving help of the team at John Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. Our family spent a lot of time on Unit Seven South, where hematology and oncology patients are treated.

Benji died after a relapse of the disease complicated by a genetic predisposition in 2017. His parents, Laura and Michael Gilkey, set up a fund in his honor to raise funds for creative and innovative pedatric cancer research, which has raised over $2.5 million dollars.

Through a collaboration with the Benjamin Gilkey Fund and John Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Sarah was brought on to create a legacy mosaic on Seven South to house the bell children ring when they complete treatment. The team wanted a peaceful design with universal appeal that evoked the aqua waters of Tampa Bay.

Sarah engaged staff on the unit to create the “bubbles” for the mosaic, a fun way to have an artistic respite and encourage ownership and creative placemaking. She then took the mosaic mural to the yearly Benjamin Gilkey Fund Gala, where donors could lay tiles and add to the legacy. The project was installed early in 2026. The bell now rings in celebration, and the mural acts as a beacon of hope and beauty to those undergoing treatment.