Item Description

“Birdie” was a nickname given to me shortly after my diagnosis.  The inspiration behind this name came from a pair of wooden bird earrings I happened to be wearing that day, not because of any profound spiritual connection.  I had, however, always liked birds, and whenever someone asked what my superpower would be, my response was “to fly”.  Naturally, when “Birdie” was given to me, I embraced it fully.  When I met other cancer friends, I was “Birdie”, not Heather.  To date, some of my closest friends I call Decoy, Pringles, Tahoe, Nemo, and Manana.   So, “Birdie” became a part of the new me, and although it started from an accessory, I actually did, in fact, find a spiritual connection to that name.  See, birds demonstrate an intricately arranged flight pattern.  Each bird needs the other; to conserve energy, to adapt to changing wind patterns, to get to its destination efficiently.  Just like a flock of birds, WE need each other.  We need each other to help carry some of the physical and emotional load that is cancer. And when we find ourselves in a place to start to give back, we will help the bird behind us carry some of that load.  Cancer takes away so much, but it can also bring incredibly beautiful things into your life.  It gave me perspective.  It brought a deeper sense of gratitude.  It brought friendships into my life that I know wouldn’t have existed had it not been for cancer.  Because of cancer, I found a beautiful flock. 

Item Special Note

About The Artist

My name is Heather Koll and I am a wife, mom, sister, daughter, Speech-Language Pathologist, friend, and cancer survivor. I am still able to recall every last detail of January 28th, 2017 (otherwise known as diagnosis day) down to the Radiologist telling me “It’s going to be a tough year.” All I thought about that day and the days to follow was how horrible this situation was. Why me? I was young, healthy, and had two little babies that needed their mom. It. Was. Awful. But what my Radiologist never prepared me for was the light that came along with the darkness. The high highs that came and trumped the lowest of lows. The friendships, the connections, the ability to truly embrace the day, to enjoy the little things on a whole new level, and opportunities (cancer “perks” I call them) like participating in the Rare Chair Affair. This experience has taught me that in a world where you can’t control much, you can always control your perspective. As for the chairs, I do not consider myself an artist, but I am now at least a little more comfortable with paint, poly, and calligraphy! I hope you enjoy the evening, and thank you for taking the time to learn a little bit about me.