The iconic Spirit of Life statue now stands as a symbol of hope and healing at City of Hope Orange County.
IRVINE- Another piece of City of Hope’s heritage has become part of the living landscape at City of Hope Orange County’s academic cancer campus in Irvine.
The Spirit of Life statue — a powerful and enduring symbol of what City of Hope stands for — has taken root in the Argyros Garden near Orange County’s only cancer specialty hospital, opening later this year.
The statue will serve as a powerful beacon of hope for patients, visitors and staff.
“Symbols matter. They remind us of where we come from and why we do this work,” said Annette Walker, president of City of Hope Orange County, at the statue’s unveiling. “The Spirit of Life and this healing garden are for everyone who walks through our campus seeking a moment of peace or purpose. They create a space that says, ‘You are not alone,’ that whatever you’re going through, there is hope.”
The statue was unveiled on the third anniversary of the opening of City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center — the most advanced comprehensive cancer center in the region. Seamlessly connected, the hospital and the cancer center offer patients the full continuum of advanced cancer care, now available for the first time in Orange County.
“This statue is a call to action, a daily reminder of the kind of place we are building — one rooted in empathy, courage, respect, and purpose — and that is the spirit we carry forward here today,” said Debra Fields, City of Hope’s executive vice president and chief transformation officer.
Learn more about the symbols of hope placed throughout City of Hope Orange County’s cancer campus.
Spirit of Life
The first Spirit of Life statue was created by artist Robert Russin in 1967 and placed at the entrance of what was then the City of Hope hospital in Duarte. It shows two adults and a child — arms lifted, in motion. The Spirit of Life celebrates family, vitality, and the shared human journey through illness and healing. Over the years, the statue became the City of Hope logo — a physical representation of City of Hope’s culture and history.
Argyros Garden
The healing garden is named in recognition of the Argyros family’s visionary philanthropic support of City of Hope Orange County. A living symbol of peace and renewal, the Argyros Garden is designed with California native plants that carry both medicinal and historical significance. Strawberry trees honor Orange County’s farming roots, and lavender offers a calming presence to quiet the mind.
Art Gallery
Located on the hallways inside the cancer center, this curated gallery brings art’s healing energy to patients, visitors and staff. Art is a central element of the cancer center’s unique design, creating a calming and peaceful environment. The exhibits are refreshed every six months, giving patients new art and artists to enjoy.
Golter Gate
Located at the entryway to City of Hope Orange County Lennar Foundation Cancer Center, the Golter Gate is a reimagined tribute to a sculpture on City of Hope’s Duarte campus. The gate bears the words of early City of Hope leader Samuel H. Golter: “There is no profit in the curing the body, if in the process, we destroy the soul.” These inspiring words from 1953 still guide us today.
Wishing Trees
The trees at City of Hope Orange County blossom not with fruit or flowers, but with messages of health, healing and hope. Inspired by a Japanese tradition, brightly colored tags hang from branches with heartfelt wishes written by patients, family members, staff and visitors. Each time it is read, the message is re-wished in a cyclical journey much like the seasons and like life itself.
Hangar 22
The café serving the cancer specialty hospital honors the rich heritage of the land on which the Orange County cancer campus now stands. Once the site of a U.S. Marine Corps air station, the café’s name celebrates a shared legacy of service, community, and the year the outpatient cancer center opened in Irvine.
