Ashley Rogers and Joelle Goldman Bilow
The Story
Ashley Rogers
Belvidere, Illinois
Breast cancer survivor
Twist on Cancer: I never expected to be told that I have breast cancer at 35 years old. Cancer was never on my radar as a young, healthy, active person. But yet, cancer came for me. With the devastation that came from my diagnosis in 2019 and feeling of betrayal from my own body, there also came so many unexpected and amazing opportunities. I realized what an amazing supportive group I already had around me, and how I could help foster that for others. I was able to reconnect with old friends and make new ones with the most amazing women. I found incredible strength and a sense of adventure that I didn’t know I had before my diagnosis. Being able to see myself through someone else’s eyes and art is something I never would have opened myself up to before my diagnosis but I am so glad I did. If I had to endure the hardship of cancer and treatment, I am so glad it opened my eyes to see so much beauty in life after treatment. It was always there, but now I know to look for it.
Breast cancer survivor
Twist on Cancer: I never expected to be told that I have breast cancer at 35 years old. Cancer was never on my radar as a young, healthy, active person. But yet, cancer came for me. With the devastation that came from my diagnosis in 2019 and feeling of betrayal from my own body, there also came so many unexpected and amazing opportunities. I realized what an amazing supportive group I already had around me, and how I could help foster that for others. I was able to reconnect with old friends and make new ones with the most amazing women. I found incredible strength and a sense of adventure that I didn’t know I had before my diagnosis. Being able to see myself through someone else’s eyes and art is something I never would have opened myself up to before my diagnosis but I am so glad I did. If I had to endure the hardship of cancer and treatment, I am so glad it opened my eyes to see so much beauty in life after treatment. It was always there, but now I know to look for it.
Joelle Bilow
Joelle Goldman Bilow
Glencoe, Illinois
“POSITIVEly PINK”
4x4x4 ft
$1800
Artist Statement: When I first spoke to Ashley on the phone, I could feel what a joyful person she was! Ashley spoke about her family, all her nieces and nephews, her siblings, and how much love there is in her family.
Ashley also spoke a great deal about her friends Melisa and Brittany, who already has been an inspiration and is Ashley’s mentor. Two of her closest friends who she refers to as “my girls “ she met in a support group. Ashley, Brittany and all had an instant connection. We spoke a lot about friendship, so I knew that whatever I created would focus on love, friendship, family and Ashley’s dogs! Ashley‘s dog Gus was a special guy. He got cancer when Ashley was sick and they supported one another. Unfortunately he passed away along with two of her nieces, Caitlin and Avery and Samuel, her nephew.
During one of our conversations over FaceTime I saw some of the art that Ashley has in her house. The three hearts represented her Avery, Caitlin and Samuel that are no longer here with us. I kept going back to friendship, and what better way to talk about friends, than friendship bracelet string. In fact, when creating this I had to reach out to some of my friends to see if they have any extra friendship bracelet string!
Ashley is definitely a fighter who loves pink. She told me on the phone that she loves to embrace the pink, the pink ribbon, and Barbie pink all make her really happy. I think Ashley would love to have her house the pink, but not sure how Kyle, her husband and two dogs Hank and Gus would feel about living in the Barbie Dream House.
Getting to know Ashley has been wonderful and I look forward to meeting her in person and giving her a hug. I wish I could meet her dogs and entire family. I also can’t wait to see Ashley, Brittany and Melissa together in person and they truly are our definition of friends… they are all a part of how this piece came to be… LOVE, FRIENDSHIP, seeing the bright side that explodes PINK and most importantly it takes a village… all of the strings that are intertwined creating a heart signifying Ashley’s village who are all connected and intertwined. She has a huge heart and this piece is about Ashley and all of those people helping her and being there for her. We should all be this lucky to have this in life.
Glencoe, Illinois
“POSITIVEly PINK”
4x4x4 ft
$1800
Artist Statement: When I first spoke to Ashley on the phone, I could feel what a joyful person she was! Ashley spoke about her family, all her nieces and nephews, her siblings, and how much love there is in her family.
Ashley also spoke a great deal about her friends Melisa and Brittany, who already has been an inspiration and is Ashley’s mentor. Two of her closest friends who she refers to as “my girls “ she met in a support group. Ashley, Brittany and all had an instant connection. We spoke a lot about friendship, so I knew that whatever I created would focus on love, friendship, family and Ashley’s dogs! Ashley‘s dog Gus was a special guy. He got cancer when Ashley was sick and they supported one another. Unfortunately he passed away along with two of her nieces, Caitlin and Avery and Samuel, her nephew.
During one of our conversations over FaceTime I saw some of the art that Ashley has in her house. The three hearts represented her Avery, Caitlin and Samuel that are no longer here with us. I kept going back to friendship, and what better way to talk about friends, than friendship bracelet string. In fact, when creating this I had to reach out to some of my friends to see if they have any extra friendship bracelet string!
Ashley is definitely a fighter who loves pink. She told me on the phone that she loves to embrace the pink, the pink ribbon, and Barbie pink all make her really happy. I think Ashley would love to have her house the pink, but not sure how Kyle, her husband and two dogs Hank and Gus would feel about living in the Barbie Dream House.
Getting to know Ashley has been wonderful and I look forward to meeting her in person and giving her a hug. I wish I could meet her dogs and entire family. I also can’t wait to see Ashley, Brittany and Melissa together in person and they truly are our definition of friends… they are all a part of how this piece came to be… LOVE, FRIENDSHIP, seeing the bright side that explodes PINK and most importantly it takes a village… all of the strings that are intertwined creating a heart signifying Ashley’s village who are all connected and intertwined. She has a huge heart and this piece is about Ashley and all of those people helping her and being there for her. We should all be this lucky to have this in life.