Diona Brzezinski
Littleton, CO
Breast Cancer Survivor
Twist on Cancer: I was put in touch with Kara through Brushes with Cancer, after being matched with another individual that couldn't see my vision and journey. Although it was a disappointment I wouldn't have ever been able to meet Kara, she saw my vision immediately. We had a great connection through Zoom. I loved her vulnerability and compassion. She is an incredible artist with a vision that has played a positive role in supporting and understanding my journey.

As a cancer patient and proud survivor, I have traveled so many different roads. The most devastating day of my entire life was in February 2018, when I found out I had breast cancer. Going down a deep, dark rabbit hole of depression and questioning “WHY ME!” I knew that I needed to change my frame of mind not only for myself but for my family and healing. What I thought would be one or two surgeries turned out to be twelve painful surgeries, radiation, Klebsiella Infection with a duration of four years and still healing and deciding whether to reconstruct or not. WHAT TO DO?

Four years later, I am stronger and more confident than I have ever been in my life. Cancer has taught me that what is taken from me on the outside can never change who I am on the inside. More than anything else, cancer taught me that life is not a given. Every single bad day is so much better than no day at all.

This journey that I will forever be on has taught me I don't need beasts to be beautiful. Thank you to my beautiful husband, Scott, who has been my pillar of strength.

This year will be my 13th and final surgery that will include an Aesthetic Flat Closure.

www.karamariethomas.com
Social Media: @transcend.the.moon
“A Window into Diona”
Acrylic on wood
18” x 32”
$1200
Artist Statement: Diona and I talked a lot about healing as a journey. There were things she had already overcome, and also others she was still currently battling. It was my interpretation that her decision to get the flap enclosure surgery instilled a lot of hope in her. With one final surgery, there is now an end in sight.

When I asked her what helped her through her surgeries and treatment, she showed me all of the Mother Mary figures that she embellishes. Later that evening, I saw footage of Paul McCartney singing the song “Let it be” in a Beatles documentary. The beginning of the song is as follows;

When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
And in my hour of darkness
She is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

Let it be, let it be
Let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

I had heard the song so many times and until I met Diona, I never fully understood it. Mother Mary brings so much peace and love, no matter what the circumstance. The words “let it be” offer a complete surrender to life and the kinds of challenges it throws at us.

When Diona told me about the owl nest outside of her home during her recovery, I saw it as an omen. The owl is a symbol of transformation, intuition, and trusting in the unknown. In the finished piece the symbol of an owl is paralleled with the phases of the moon. The lyrics to the song “Let it Be” are written in the sky and are seen amongst the flowers flowing out of Mother Mary’s hands. All of these motifs together communicate acceptance, growth, and moving on.