Peter Rinaldi, 78, from Champion, Ohio, has always had a strong penchant for art. In fact, during his career as a machine analyst for General Motors, he began doing artwork for company blueprints and was actively involved in the Mahoning Valley Woodcarving Club.

Doctors diagnosed Peter with an advanced form of laryngeal cancer in May 2013. After a number of surgeries, including a procedure to remove his voice box, he's undergoing rigorous chemotherapy and radiation treatments at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

Peter presses his left index finger against a button that activates a voice box prosthesis. He uses it every time he needs to speak --a movement he does frequently during art sessions with Stephen, his art therapist.

Stephen helps Peter develop a voice and a comfort by expressing himself through art. "I'm a realist, but there's only so much realism out there," says Peter. "Stephen helps me explore a new form of expression through creating abstract art." It's a shift in perspective to help Peter speak to the journey he's experiencing with the disease.

Stephen works with Peter to focus on generating expressions of the mind, body, and spirit. "It kind of helps smooth any bumps along the road," says Peter. "It tucks all that misery away somewhere."

Before UH Seidman Cancer Center doctors implanted Peter's voice box prosthesis, he was unable to speak for nine months. His wife, Kathy, and daughter, Jenna, bought him a Boogie Board, a paperless writing tablet, so he could communicate. It was while he was lying in a hospital bed, that Peter started drawing. That picture reignited his passion for art.

Married for 45 years, Kathy beams when she shows pictures and models of Peter's woodworking and stained glass creations. "Peter has amazing talents. And regardless of setbacks he still keeps trying," says Kathy. "He's been fighting a good battle."

Peter Rinaldi is the first patient at University Hospitals to have his art featured as an exhibition at the hospital. "If you never step out of your little box, you're never going to learn a lot more," says Peter.

Art curators hung 22 pieces of art including acrylic on wood and canvas and mosaics --all created by Peter during and around his treatments. A hospital hall by day, by night, doctors, nurses, caregivers, friends and family members transformed the space into an art exhibition. "This is the best night of my life," said Peter.

"Apart from my art and my woodworking, it would be hard to keep moving forward. I look forward to getting up every day and doing my artwork," said Peter.

"You take what life gives you and you work with it. You never think you'll be the one with cancer, but then you get it. And you have to live with it," said Peter. "So I wake up every day with a new feeling that I'm going to try and accomplish something. This gallery provided me an overwhelming sense of accomplishment."