Mary Brevold
About Mary:
For Mary a diagnosis of DCIS was “lucky”. If you have to have breast cancer “you can’t get any luckier than I was.” Although the diagnosis is the least life threatening Mary felt like a “poster-child” for the importance of being in charge of your own healthcare. She learned everything she could about breast cancer, specifically DCIS, from the internet not from her oncologist’s office. The internet remained her primary resource until her last step of treatment: radiation. Mary would like to take her experience and use it to make breast cancer treatment information and options more accessible to women.
Mary’s Chair: Beer Chair
It’s about eating dessert first.
It is much too easy in life to get caught up in doing what is ‘right’ and following the socially accepted norms. Surviving cancer for me was learning to take control of my health and my life. It was about making informed decisions about what was happening. It was a wake-up call. Aging is now a privilege and the obvious is not always what it seems. For me reality is about love and laughter and sharing those with others. Life is for savoring the best and making the best of whatever comes my way. So my chair came together with bright colors of optimism and the contributions and support of others. I say, Dare to live and not just exist.
Joey Denk
About Joey:
Breast cancer was not something new to Joey, it runs in the family. She has 3 aunts that have beaten the disease, two of them more than once. When diagnosed at the age of 37 Joey knew she had to take an aggressive approach to treatment to survive and avoid recurrence. She had constant, steady support from her husband, mother, brothers and sister throughout her journey. She had a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and then a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction at Elmbrook Memorial Hospital. The positive mental approach made the year long journey from diagnosis to recovery bearable enough that she says, “I could maintain a “normal” life. Maintaining a sense of normalcy means more than I can express.” They “treated me in a fashion that made me feel as though I was their most important patient.” Two years later Joey now says, “I feel healed. My body has physically recovered and I have my strength back. . . . I imagine there will always be the lingering question of “will it return” but given the tools and technology we improve on daily, I can honestly say that if it does, I will beat it again.” Joey now focuses on each day and enjoys her time with family and friends. “I have decided to take this experience and draw the positive out of it . . . appreciate what you have every single day.”
Joey’s Chair: “The Embrace”
The head and face gaze downward serenely
The arms with flowing strength
Embrace Life, Self, Inner Peace
The body is alive with activity
Embrace Family, Friends, Joy
Simple beauty, bright with color
Embrace the blessings every day brings!
These are the things my chair represents. It is symbolic of the important things in life, things everyone needs to stay happy and healthy. I hope it can inspire and remind anyone who looks at it what the priorities in life really are.
I want to make a special note of the strength represented in the arms – this strength came from my husband, my mom, my brothers and sister with the support they gave me during treatment. I could not have come through it as well as I did without them. I cannot express how much they all mean to me – I am truly blessed.
Carol Duncan
About Carol:
Carol was diagnosed at age 46 with stage 2 ductal carcinoma. She had been getting yearly mammograms because her grandmother had breast cancer. She attributes her stamina and tolerance of her treatment regimen to the “excellent support of my husband and step kids. My co-workers were phenomenal. They allowed me to remain dignified while I lost my hair, shaved my head and shuffled along due to extreme exhaustion. . . .” Carol has chosen to share her experience with everyone she meets in order to create more awareness of breast cancer in young women. She also helps to see new legislation passed to provide worker protection to those going through any kind of cancer treatment. Carol considers herself lucky in that “cancer showed me that so many people are inherently good and extremely supportive when they experience it along with you. It is when you are only a number or a statistic that shows in a report that desensitizes people to what the human impact really is.” She asks that if “you see a woman out there shopping and she is wearing her cancer wig or cancer scarf or hat or regaling you with her bald head . . . she is usually having one of her “good days”. Smile at her, give her the dignity she deserves, the acceptance and the support that she needs to feel normal again as she tries to get “back in the saddle again”.”
Carol’s Chair: “Back in the Saddle Again”
Carol chose to do a desk chair because she went to college to be an art teacher. The thought of all the kids who had used the desk was irresistible. She kept the look rustic and “left the gum that all those students stuck to the under carriage knowing full well that they were told to get rid of it by their teachers.” “The wonderful crazing of the finish made me think of an old time, well worn, leather horse’s saddle.” This idea is a good analogy of her life now. Having recently hit her 5 year survival mark she has been trying to get “back in the saddle of my former life before cancer.” She acknowledges the worry will always be there but for now “I’m working on getting back on board with my new normal.”
Melissa Hodik
About Melissa:
Even before Melissa was diagnosed with cancer she was already involved in the breast cancer world. She did the Danskin Breast Cancer Triathalon and her best friend, Holly, had breast cancer. When Melissa was told she had cancer her first thought was “I am going to die”. About an hour later, after the shock wore off, she found a surgeon and scheduled her care through Waukesha Memorial Hospital’s cancer clinic. She had two lumpectomies, radiation and is now in a drug trial of tamoxifen and arimidex. She is grateful for the care and respect she has received from multiple cancer centers. Melissa is thankful for the support she received from God, her family, her friends and her coworkers. She has done the Danskin Triathalon as a survivor also. “Doing the Danskin as a survivor has opened my eyes and shown me how great the volunteers for breast cancer organizations and events are. A big than you to all you who volunteer!”
Melissa’s Chair: The Martini Chair
My favorite drink is a cosmopolitan, which is a type of martini. I thought a martini chair would be interesting to design. Although drinking does clear my head it was not my inspiration for the chair. I just happen to like cosmos and everyone can use some whimsical fun in their life.
Tunisia Koonce
About Tunisia:
In May of 2006 Tunisia was 32 weeks pregnant and being told she had breast cancer. She was 35 and had one child at home. The next week she delivered a healthy 7 pound baby on Wednesday and started chemotherapy on Friday. Four months later she had a mastectomy and was told her prognosis was good. However after just a year she was told she had recurrent, metastatic cancer. Having a triple negative tumor there aren’t many treatment options. So Tunisia says she will be “fighting this battle for the rest of my life, unless we find a cure.” She got involved with the Rare Chair Affair for the art therapy and to raise funds for breast cancer research.
Tunisia’s Chair: Panthers Think Pink
This is the first year that UW-Milwaukee will participate in Milwaukee’s Susan G Komen Race for the Cure. As one of the co-captains of the team, I wanted to do something to commemorate this experience.
Irene Potocki
About Irene:
Irene has always envisioned her journey with breast cancer as her “road construction”. As she left the hospital after her initial diagnosis she was already seeing the “road construction area” she was entering. “An area where we are forced to take a detour, the road is bumpy and uneven and often we are forced to go down roads we had no intention of going down. Once this area is reconstructed the road is smoothly paved- crisp and clean markings (are painted) and the sun is shining and flowers are gently swaying on the sides.” She pictured herself at the end and she asked everyone else to see her there too.
Irene has seen herself as being very blessed throughout her journey. She postponed the start of her chemotherapy to continue the tradition of being present at all her grandchildren’s births. Her extended family, friends and co workers were an “amazing network of support”. Each member of her company donated vacation time to her which allowed her to take an extra 30 days without worry. “I realized that all of us who cruise through this breast cancer road construction provide others an opportunity to do good work.” Another of Irene’s friends ran the Y-Me marathon in Chicago on Mother’s Day in 2006 in her honor.
Irene’s treatment included surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and herceptin. She also included healing touch therapy, acupuncture, meditation, music and the love and support of wonderful people to get her to where she is now, “healthy, smiling and standing on the fresh pavement”.
Irene’s Chair: Queen Of The Road . . . Cruising Through Life’s Road Construction Zones
Lakeland RV in Middleton gave me a wobbly chair from their storage area. They thought a Harley themed chair would be a great idea. I loved it! I thought the seat of the chair’s seat was very interesting. What would I put in this secret compartment? “Hear Me Roar Stories of Motorcycles and Women: from early years through current times” by Ann Ferrar sounded perfect. I thought “Hear Me Roar” was an appropriate symbol for the strength and power displayed by those going through breast cancer. I adorned the inside with a patch, donated by “Divas for a Cure”, and motivational stickers with sayings like Fight like a Girl, I’m a Survivor, and Believe, as is the Bandana on the back of the chair. I painted the chair in shades of pink to represent the differences in breast cancer . . . it is not ONE color / one form – so the shades represent the many types of breast cancer. Notice the “chrome”? Vic, my darling husband and partner for over 40 years through the thick and thin of life’s adventures, bought and helped me apply this aluminum tape to the “spokes”! I was looking for pink leather or vinyl for the seat cushion to match the pink paint. By chance (I like to believe by DESIGN) I ‘happened’ to drive by Biel’s Upholstery on a street I had not been down previously in Janesville. Curt from the store said “We certainly can order something for you – hold on just a minute.” He comes back with a piece of pink material saying “I did one piece in this high quality commercial vinyl quite some time ago.” After spending some time getting the creases out of the material he looked at me and said . . . “OBVIOUSLY this has been sitting on my shelf all this time just waiting for you!” This was not the end of my story with Curt and Biel’s Upholstery. Vic came across a wonderful H-D cloth patch but my 40 year old sewing machine was no match for it and the vinyl it needed to be attached to. Curt said it would be no problem to sew it on once he finished the project he was working on. A week later I’m off to Janesville again to pick up the piece to start putting it all together. The goodness of this person I had never before met again amazed me. Curt not only had the patch on the vinyl piece of material but the cushion was neatly upholstered. “Hope the chair brings a good dollar amount at the auction,” says Curt. Now for the final touches. On the back I put a Harley Davidson pin and a bandana. Suspended across the top space I put charms from Divas for a Cure, an Avon breast cancer flip flop received from my dear friend Bobby and a pink ribbon bought at the Chicago Y-Me Marathon ran in my honor by my dear friend and colleague Susan on Mother’s Day in 2006. As you can see, this chair really has quite its own story. The kindness of others working from their heart is awesome. I want to thank everyone who helped me in my journey. Truly through all of life’s challenging roads – I could not have done it [the journey nor this chair] without Vic and his encouragement and his love.
Pam Radaj
About Pam:
Pam got involved in painting with the Rare Chair Affair to “show my gratitude to all the people who work so tirelessly to try to find a cure for this awful disease.” She was diagnosed with stage 1, HER2 + breast cancer in January of this year. Pam feels fortunate in that she was stage 1 and that herceptin was available for early stage cancers. She describes this year as being “unusual and stressful for my husband, me and my family. I still can’t say it’s been a bad experience- it has been an experience.” The lack of energy was the hardest thing for Pam although the loss of her eyelashes and hair was not easy either. Pam says, “It has been hard to watch (family and friends) worry about me..”. She worries about potential long term effects of the chemotherapy and radiation as well as the possibility of a recurrence. However, “it doesn’t consume me. It will be what it will be. The cancer family is a BIG family so no one is alone- ever.” Pam is more grateful than she could have ever imagined to have such an incredible husband by her side. She knows that with the support of her husband, her family and her friends she will make it through.
Pam’s Chair: RockerGlide
My name is Pam and my chair is called “RockerGlide” like Harley’s ElectraGlides. It started out as a brown wood rocker and the people who donated it suggested a Harley motif. Since my husband and I both ride, I was happy to take this chair as my project. Initially I had all kinds of wild ideas, like saddle bags on the side, some chrome, fringe, etc. But the more I thought about it, the more I wanted this chair to be something that someone would bid on to put in their home and be proud of. Therefore, I didn’t go totally “hog” wild on it! I also wanted there to be something on it for breast cancer since this has been my year. I am very proud to have been able to be a part of the Rare Chair Affair for 2009 and I hope whoever wins my chair enjoys it for many years! I thank them for their contribution to such a very worthy cause.
Katie Roosa
About Katie:
Katie was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer when she was just 20 years old and a junior at UW-Milwaukee. She was afraid for her health and for her future. “I was so confused when I was first diagnosed and one thing I really wanted to do was to talk to someone else who had been where I was at.” “After doing some research and finding statistics of young breast cancer survival rates I decided I was not going to let numbers define my life. It is easy to get caught up in the research and compare yourself to others but one thing I have learned is that everyone is different . . . you have to trust your instinct.” Her biggest worry then became treatment interfering with school. After several doctor’s appointments she found the best doctors for her and she was ready to fight. She had a lumpectomy over spring break and a mastectomy with reconstruction and aggressive chemotherapy over summer. Katie used art work and creativity as part of her healing during treatment. When she heard of the Rare Chair Affair she thought it would be a good way to “wrap up my journey of my cancer treatment and give back to the breast cancer community.” Through her experience with breast cancer Katie has learned that she is a very determined person and has more self confidence. She is willing to take risks and fight for what she feels is truly important. Katie feels fortunate to have a loving family, a supportive boyfriend and kind friends who stayed by her side through all the ups and downs.
Katie’s Chair: Tulip Intuition
My chair came to be a tulip chair because of my intuition. When I found the chair I could not deny the fact that it just looked like a tulip. I used the back of the chair to represent the sky. The back is a gorgeous blue sky with fluffy clouds and the front is the sun. A yellow and orange boa was used to represent the rays and to add a little spunk. I wanted the tulip head to stand out the most so I used a variety of colors to make it pop. The main goal of the chair was for it to be a beautiful piece art and yet remain functional and comfortable.
Debra Saker
About Debra:
Debra was diagnosed in February of 2008. Suddenly, the scariest words in the English language to her were “cancer”, “invasive”,” malignancy”. In the weeks that followed, these words overtook every thought and haunted every dream of hers. One evening, in the midst of all of the despair, she realized that she was the only one who was going to be able to disempower them. For her the epiphany was that her focus on fear wasn’t going to make the upcoming journey any easier. She suddenly found herself only able to see two options – it was either going to be about loss or it was going to be about learning. She opted for the latter by choosing the words she would live by.
Debra quickly began to replace “cancer, invasive, malignant, victim” with: “survivor, journey, hope, love, life.” One of her breast care nurses explained her pending surgery to her daughter as “pulling bad weeds from a garden so the flowers can grow.” In post-op, the words: “lymph negative” screamed a promise of “victory” to her. A double mastectomy meant “perky replacement parts”. Rather than thinking about the chemotherapy as “poison treatments,” Debra replayed over and over again the story that the oncology nurse had told her daughter about the medicine going through her body like “Ms. Pacman looking to get the bad cancer cells, and, on her way eating up a few of the good cells, like the ones that made your mom’s hair grow.” The infusion room became just another “remote office space”. The nickname “Super Woman” made her smile. A comment of “Your strength becomes you” gave Debra strength. At one point when she questioned whether she should be more discreet about what she was going through, a co-worker encouraged her to “Live Out Loud”.
Debra is grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Rare Chair Affair, and with gratitude and humility, extends a very public thank you to those whose thoughts and words supported her throughout this very interesting adventure.
Debra’s Chair: Choose Your Words Carefully
The inspiration came from the words that lifted me up and pushed me along my journey of surviving breast cancer. Some are from songs or poems. Others are offhand comments from friends or colleagues. All of them were divinely guided – recalled or said just when I most needed the message.
Holly Schulz
About Holly:
On one of the warmest February days in Wisconsin at the age of 51, Holly found out she had breast cancer. As Holly describes the day: “It was 50 degrees outside, it was a beautiful day, one of those unseasonably warm winter days that reminds you that spring will be coming soon, giving a sense of hope and rejuvenation after a snowy winter. And although I could feel spring’s birth approaching, I felt like I was quickly dying. Beginning that day, I was a cancer patient.”
She was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in February 2004. She had a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation and is currently taking Arimidex. She feels very blessed to say she is now five years cancer free.
As Holly so eloquently tells her story, “I began my battle against breast cancer with a journal each and every day, writing so that I would not miss a thought or feeling that I had. I ended up with more than 300 pages. I knew I wanted to help others after, and I wanted to be able to reference it while listening to another woman discuss her fears of beginning chemo, losing her hair or questioning how she would cope.”
Holly is now a mentor for ABCD (After Breast Cancer Diagnosis), which is Melodie Wilson’s organization. The e-mail she received regarding the Rare Chair Affair really caught her attention, especially the part that read, “No artistic talent required.” She thought to herself, “What could be more rewarding and fun than gathering weekly with old and new friends as they work together, supporting each other’s efforts to create works of art?” And did she feel she got all of that? In Holly’s words, “through the time spent creating the chairs, we took the opportunity to celebrate life, with all of it’s joys and sorrows, by re-telling the stories of our struggles and triumphs with cancer while we reflected and honored others close to us who were not as fortunate.”
She would like to take this opportunity to thank the doctors and all of the women and men who bravely went through this disease before me, where so much was learned and tried to help make my diagnosis an even more positive one.
Holly would also like to thank, “my husband, Curtis, of 38 years who did everything it took to bring me back to health and for doing such a wonderful job helping me with my chair. My daughter, Shannon, who made me feel pretty on my ugliest days and to my son, Christopher, whose notes of faith and encouragement took me from my beginning to the end, giving me strength and hope. God has richly blessed me by giving me my family, hope during the toughest times, and faith when I desperately needed it. Cancer has changed my life . . . for the better.”
Holly’s Chair: Willie’s Wild Ride – signed by “Willie G” himself
Patricia Skowronski
About Patricia:
Patricia and a few friends “took the plunge to show off (their) talents” and help support the Rare Chair Affair. Patricia was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer in January of 2003 just 3 months after a normal mammogram. After chemotherapy, surgery, more chemotherapy and radiation she was cancer free for almost 5 years. Last September Patricia was diagnosed with recurrent breast cancer, this time it was in her liver and bones. She has been on weekly treatments ever since. Patricia wants people to “be aware of your own body. If you question how you feel go a step further. Be your own advocate.” Although she is not cancer free she says, “I am feeling wonderful. I have amazing family and friend support and wonderful doctors. I often think I got cancer for a reason. It has put many things in perspective and has made me thankful for every day. I have always said that no matter how long you live it is never long enough. Cherish every day!”
Patricia’s Chair: Betty Boop
Do you “Boop”? I have always said that when I grow up I want to be just like Betty Boop. I guess I haven’t grown up yet. I have always loved her . . . cute, spicy, a little bit naughty and a little bit nice.
Dawn Suvagian
About Dawn:
My journey began on October 17, 2007. A routine check-up ended up having an ultrasound followed by a biopsy, all in the same day. I work at the Center for Breast Care at Waukesha Memorial. I like to say that I received extra special treatment because of that, but I can’t. I was treated like any other patient only now I was also the patient. I went through chemotherapy and radiation due to my cancer traveling to my lymph nodes. Going to work everyday was my therapy, to fight. I was able to speak with other women that were experiencing the same thing I was going through. I truly could tell them I know what you are going through. My mother passed away seven years ago from breast cancer. I have gone through genetic testing and I don’t carry the gene. For this reason I decided to get involved in the Rare Chair Affair. We need to end this disease for my daughter, my granddaughter and all other women and men.
Dawn’s Chair: Garden Party
Spring is my favorite time of the year. I love how all of the plants come back to life – in a way they are reborn. I feel that my experience is in a way a rebirth. I have sprung back up and I’m ready to bloom again. I have enjoyed so much working with an amazing group of women who have all in one way or another also had to opportunity to bloom again. I lost my mother to this disease 7 years ago and never in my wildest dreams did I think that 5 years later I would be experiencing this battle myself. I have been fortunate to have been working in the Center for Breast Care at Waukesha Memorial for the last 7 years. I see too many women who are going through the same experience that I have. We need to end this disease now. Let’s have spring all year round. I want to thank my husband Jim who I believe is also a survivor. Thank you for all of your help – without you I couldn’t have done it.
Linda Weide
About Linda:
Ten years ago, my dear friend Dawn Anderson asked if I would be interested in participating as a survivor artist in the first Rare Chair Affair. I gladly accepted and have never regretted doing so because I’ve gained more than I have given throughout these past 10 years. Whether participating as a survivor artist, committee member or co-chairing the event, it has afforded me the opportunity to express myself artistically and also to work with my friends and family and meet other dedicated people who also are working towards the eradication of this insidious disease. This year I’m especially appreciative and proud because of the addition to our committee of my daughter Katie Corcoran, who was only 11 years old when I was diagnosed 16 1/2 years ago and my daughter-in-law Erin Calfa Weide. These two young women along with Colleen Booth have worked so diligently to breathe a “breath of fresh air” into the event and it’s quite apparent that they have succeeded.
Linda’s Chair: SET YOUR BUTT ON KING TUT
I decided on an ancient Egyptian theme when I found the wrapping paper I used as a mosaic on the chair’s seat. I attempted to replicate the designs and colors that were actually used on Tut’s sarcophagus.
Dottie Wing
Dottie’s Chair: Phil’s Inspiration
My inspiration for this chair comes from the wonderful gentleman who helped us create our chairs. His artistic insight helped me come up with this design. I am “artistically challenged” and can’t draw stick men. So the checkerboard chair theme was my one chance to complete a chair for the Breast Cancer Coalition. The pairing of black and white has always been a personal favorite. I hope it will be a nice addition in someone else’s home.
Zelda Wise
About Zelda:
Zelda was diagnosed with breast cancer 3 times! Twice she had a lumpectomy followed by radiation but the third time she decided to have a bilateral mastectomy. She wanted to get rid of the last pieces so she would not have to go through a fourth diagnosis and surgery. She did not do reconstruction because “my husband does not care if I look different, I will just let the next husband worry about how I look. (This is in jest of course)”. Zelda was living in Houston, Texas at the time of her third breast cancer experience. She feels very fortunate to have been able to be treated at MD Anderson. She volunteered as a Pink Lady in the breast center there before moving to Milwaukee. Zelda chose to get involved with Rare Chair Affair because she hopes that someday there will be help to “end all of these events”. She has confidence that the research being done will lead to a cure “sooner than later.” Zelda is a volunteer with ABCD and is currently mentoring a woman who she “knows will have success as she goes forward”.
Zelda’s Chair: “Lacing It Up”
My favorite color, purple, is the dominant color of my chair, “Lacing it Up.” But that is not the only reason for my choosing the color. Purple is also the color of royalty. I believe that women from the past and women of today are like royalty, regal in how they meet adversity with their heads held high. Regal in how they move through life touching so many hearts and minds.
Likewise, the use of lace reflects the regal woman and what women do and how they do it. Women’s actions come not only from the mind but from the heart, looking at their world with a softer and more feminine aspect. A woman may set an elegant dinner table with a cloth of lace and matching lace-edged napkins or add a touch of lace to an otherwise severe-looking outfit. Historically, women hung lace curtains to add beauty to their homes. Lace trimmed fans were also prevalent in the days of elegance. The regal woman.
And laces? Picture a mother lacing a young child’s shoes. The scene in Gone with the Wind where Scarlett O’Hara is being tightly laced into a figure-shaping corset. A WNBA superstar lacing her shoes before going out to play a big game. The act of lacing can, therefore, be a feminine one.
These laces and these colors put a smile in my heart, a reminder of my joys and blessings. Today, I feel blessed to be a three-time survivor of breast caner, joining with others to assist in making breast cancer a thing of the past. Let us lace up and tie up forever this disease.