Carianne Ciriacks
Carianne was diagnosed in 2010 at 34 years old. She has a very supportive husband and two small children. Carianne found her own lump while in the shower and went right to the doctor. Thankfully her doctor took the lump seriously. She had a mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy all of this came back inconclusive. The biopsy ended up being sent to the Mayo Clinic and Carianne was diagnosed with cancer. Thank goodness for her perseverance!
Carianne has created a bookshelf for the Rare Chair Affair as a way to give back to the community, meet new people, and relax ☺
Amanda Fox
Whispers From The Heart
Amanda was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 31 years old–11 years after being treated for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Amanda’s sister was also diagnosed and treated for both diseases at a very young age. Amanda’s work in the health care field has provided her the knowledge she needed to be her own health advocate, and she hopes to help other women receive the education they need. To say that Amanda has amazing strength is an understatement. Amanda wants to see an end to breast cancer–for herself, for her family and friends, for her niece, and others at risk for the disease.
Amanda’s mirror is called ‘Whispers From The Heart’ and is painted with the quote:
It’s impossible, said pride.
It’s risky, said experience.
It’s pointless, said reason.
Give it a try, whispered the heart.
This quote represents Amanda’s philosophy on facing any adversity in life. She has never backed down from any difficult situation, especially her cancer diagnosis. “Instead of feeling sorry for myself and dwelling on the way my life has played out, I reflect on the fact that everyone has something negative or challenging in their life. Mine just happens to be cancer. And I truly believe that everyone has within them, the courage and strength to overcome.”
Amanda’s hope is that when you read the quote in the mirror, you also look at your reflection to find the courage and strength within and that you hear the whisper from your heart.
Terri Hamilton
Terri was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2010 when she was 40 years old. At the time, Terri was not very happy with the way her life was going. Cancer seemed to be the straw that would break her back. What she discovered though, was a brand new life. She feels that cancer has been a very positive influence. She loved her medical team and is extremely thankful for all that they did for her throughout her journey.
Terri’s hope chest shows what cancer has given her–personal growth, strength, and hope!
Robyn Krimke
Robyn was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 when she was 37 years old. She has 3 children that keep her extremely busy – she often jokes that she knew she couldn’t let cancer beat her because no one wants to take her kids ☺
Robyn’s road through cancer was long and twisty. She had a bilateral mastectomy and 16 rounds of chemotherapy. She was allergic to some of the medications in her chemotherapy, so rather than being a half-day outpatient procedure, she had to spend the night in the hospital each time.
Robyn credits a mammogram with saving her life. She has become a huge advocate for women having annual mammograms and doing regular self exams. She hopes that her bar will raise your spirits, as well as raise lots of money for a finding a cure!
Laura Kuecker
Laura was diagnosed in 2006 at 28 years old. She is married, and at that time her daughters were 12 and 5. Laura had a bilateral mastectomy and 8 rounds of chemotherapy. Laura did not let chemo bring her down – she worked full time throughout her treatment and kept life at home as normal as possible.
Laura recently celebrated 5 years of being cancer free! She is now part of the leadership team for the Young Survival Coalition-Milwaukee and works tirelessly to help other young women navigate their breast cancer journey.
Kathy Lampe
Kathy was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1982 when she was 40 years old, and just a month before her brother died of cancer. Kathy chose to have a radical mastectomy followed by Tamoxifen. She was involved in one of the blind studies that paved the way for women today – the kind of research that WBCC/NBCC is so focused on with the 2020 Initiative! Since battling cancer herself, Kathy has learned of the BRCA1 mutation in her family. Of the 7 nieces and nephews who have chosen to be tested for the BRCA gene, 4 are positive – 2 male and 2 female. Two of her siblings have died of cancer and 2 of her nieces have fought breast cancer. . . . All the more reason we need to keep fighting to find a cure!
Mary Recktenwalt
Mary was diagnosed with breast cancer at 46 years old. She has a wonderful husband and 2 daughters that helped her survive her surgery, 4 rounds of chemotherapy, and 33 rounds of radiation.
Prior to her diagnosis, Mary had been the picture of health; so to say she was shocked when a routine mammogram found cancer is an understatement. Her goal now is to educate other women- no one is immune to this disease. You do not need to have a family history, or be in poor health. Mary is dedicated to helping the WBCC find a cure for breast cancer so that her daughters, nieces and friends can be free of the fear of the disease.
Meredith Rubin
Meredith was diagnosed at age 34 and while she, like so many women describes her experience with breast cancer as difficult and life changing, she also believes that she has never experienced anything quite as life affirming. She found that the process of going through treatment was a practice for living in the moment and focusing on what is most important – enjoyment. She also became aware of the different set of issues young women with breast cancer face, and became a member of the Young Survival Coalition – Milwaukee’s leadership council.
Meredith’s rocking chair was inspired by two things – the renewal that the arrival of spring brought after her winter of treatments, and the centuries’ old craft of knitting. She credits meditation, a great deal of knitting and the knowledge that come springtime, the sun would shine and the flowers bloom, with keeping her looking forward beyond her disease.
Meredith says that through her experience she learned an incredible lesson about love and relationships. Her husband, Abe, “who was with me every step of the way”, she says was her greatest teacher, and she will be forever grateful to her parents, friends and family, for the support and encouragement they offered her. “They helped me to feel that I have a place in this world and in their hearts.”
*Meredith expresses a heartfelt thank you to Ruhama’s Yarn & Needlepoint for their generous donation of the lovely yarn she used to make the throw which accompanies the rocking chair.
Vicki Rydell
Imagine
Vicki was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2010 when she was only 39 years old. She has young twin daughters and an amazing husband that helped her through her lumpectomy, 16 rounds of chemo and 33 rounds of radiation. Vicki hopes to use her experience with cancer as a stepping-stone to educate other young women about the importance of self-exams. She also hopes to work with organizations that fund mammograms for underprivileged women. Her beautiful table, “Imagine”, is dedicated to her daughters–with the hope that someday we will do more than imagine a world without breast cancer.
Dana Stewart
A Chair Left Open
Dana was diagnosed in 2010 at 32 years old. She found the lump on her own during a monthly self-exam. Dana endured a bilateral mastectomy and four rounds of chemotherapy, and says that it was the toughest thing she has gone through. Throughout her journey Dana was sure to keep her sense of humor. She focused on laughter and says that looking for humor in her situation kept her strong.
Dana has created A Chair Left Open. It is a beautiful representation of what Dana has learned on her journey. . . . Everyone has an “open chair” to go to when you have the time to take a break from your day-to-day life. Bid high on this chair – you’ll have your open chair in your own backyard!
Jianne Wade
Metamorphosis
Jianne was diagnosed with cancer when she was 35 years old. It was a moment that not only changed her life, but also the lives of those around her. Jianne is thankful that she has the opportunity to continue to spend “moments” loving her friends and family, and enjoying all that life has to offer.
Jianne has created “Metamorphosis” because she wants to give “a little bit of love, a little bit of laughter, and a little bit of herself with a touch of a paintbrush”. It is her sincere commitment to beauty, wisdom, and the grace of life that brought Jianne to this chair. She hopes that it will be a place to honor one’s life and its evolution and that when you sit in it each day will be filled with new beauty, new wisdom, and everlasting grace.
Clarice Zucker
Lavender Blue Dilly Dilly
The lavender and blue flowers I used on my chair brought to mind a phrase from a lovely Burl Ives song – a song that can give us all comfort and strength.
“Lavender blue dilly, dilly,
Lavender green
If I were a King dilly dilly,
I’d need a queen”
We have all met the dragon, “the BIG C”, done battle and have slain it, so I’d say this makes us all warrior queens.
Phil Clonninger
Women, Flowers, Serenity
This table honors my friend Linda Weide and salutes the very courageous battle she lost to breast cancer. It depicts a serene gathering of women enjoying, among all things beautiful in the world, flowers. The socializing portrayed in this piece also reflects my getting to know the amazing survivors whom I had the pleasure of guiding on their journeys toward creating Rare Chair Affair artistic treasures.
Phil is a past silent auction artist donor and has volunteered his considerable talent as an “artist angel” to our survivor artists the last two years.
Pat Skowronski
A Whole Lot of Latte
Pat has created A Whole Lot of Latte! As in a cup of tea or coffee, we continue to pour into life as much as we can. Pat feels that her cup has always been “Half Full”. She says that even though she has been re-diagnosed with breast cancer, she has a full cup of daily support and love from so many others that her cup is warm, creamy, and delicious. When she looks into it, she sees her family, friends, love, and laughter . . . Life is “A Whole Lot of Latte”.
Jo DeMars
Taking a Chance
Life’s big events, like a cancer diagnosis, ripple change through our lives: Ripples in our choices, ripples in our perspective, ripples in our relationships.
Reminding us that a slow and steady pace moves us steadily toward a goal, the faux tortoise shell finish on this table forms the foundation. Just like our routine days, the mottled black and grey colors get all mixed up with the metallic copper and gold. Each day we can chose to focus on the drab monotony or we can look for the hidden treasures. The tortoise shell table top is protected by glass with an etched checkerboard, reminding us we are all playing the game of life. A gold box on the shelf holds checkers made with colorful fly fishing lures reminding us of the beauty that comes with learned skills. Every day we become stronger in our abilities. Every choice uses practiced abilities to help us land the Big One.
Whether it’s taking a chance on love, making the next career move or picking up a new hobby, our life ripples with change – and each change brings a new, enhanced perspective. Take a Chance!