“In Her Hands”
Audrey Wasik
Chicago, IL
Survivor
Twist on Cancer: Cancer. One small word. Six letters. A diagnosis that changes you forever. For me, it was a double-edged sword. Not only was it cancer — it was cancer on my face. My eyelid. A small piece of facial real estate with a lasting cosmetic impact. I required surgery and radiation. After the first surgery, looking in the mirror each day and seeing that dark hollow space was gut-wrenching. Walking into public places felt different. You become aware of every glance. You avoid eye contact. You wonder what people see — and what they think. Following the initial procedure, I endured six additional surgeries over the next few years, all part of reconstruction. There were setbacks and speed bumps along the way. The emotional, psychological, and physical changes forced me to dig deep — to find strength I didn’t know I had and to redefine what “normal” meant. Through it all, my friends and family never left my side. Their encouragement during the darkest days strengthened me. My medical team never gave up on me. And neither did I. Twist Out Cancer (TOC) also became part of my healing journey. The monthly Twistshops gave me a sacred hour — a place to leave my baggage at the door and simply create, express, and breathe. That experience helped me mentally box up some of the darker moments.
The box is still there. I can open it anytime. But it no longer owns me. It has been four years since my diagnosis. I remain cancer-free. The reconstruction process is nearly complete, and soon I will be fitted with a prosthetic eye. I am ready to embrace my new normal. I may look different on the outside, but I am the same within — perhaps even stronger. I will never forget this journey, but I no longer live in it. To my family, my friends, my medical team, and TOC — thank you. Thank you for being my strength when I felt weak. Thank you for being my cheerleaders. Thank you for never giving up on me. Thank you for being the best.
Riya Jadeja
Austin, TX
@_riya.jadeja on Instagram
“In Her Hands”
Oil on Wood
9” x 13”
$250
Artist Statement: Working with Audrey has been nothing short of transformative. She carries herself with a quiet strength and an intentional optimism that brings light even to the heaviest moments. Her positivity is not naive—it is chosen, and being in her presence makes it impossible not to feel its impact. As we worked together on this piece, our goal was not just to reflect what she endured, but to honor who she is beyond her diagnosis. Audrey shared that she never wanted to be reduced to “the lady with cancer.” In reclaiming her identity, she began designing and wearing hats, choosing instead to be known as “the lady with the hats.” What may seem like a small act was, in truth, a powerful declaration that her identity belonged to her alone. What inspires me most is her refusal to let her story end where her diagnosis began. This piece does not represent her cancer—it represents her reclamation of self. It marks the close of a chapter defined by uncertainty, and the beginning of one defined by strength, autonomy, and possibility. Being part of her journey has been an honor I will carry with me always.