Lake Country This Month

By Chris Bennett Special to The Freeman WAUKESHA — Rachelle Krischan's instrument of healing is a tattoo machine, and she helps restore what women lost to cancer. Krischan is an artist at Skully's Jedi Tattoo, 366 W. Main St. in Waukesha, and she helps several women each year cover their mastec- tomy scars and once again feel whole and beautiful. "When they come in, either they're timid at first or they say, 'Let's do this. I want to take back what cancer took from me,'" she said. "You have this empowerment, almost a self- awareness, as you're going through the tattoo." Brock Steven is the owner of Rock- star Tattoo & Co. at 2707 S. 108th Street in West Allis, and is well- known for also tattooing breast can- cer survivors. Steven specializes in 3- D nipple and areola tattooing. "It's just been such an overwhelm- ing feeling, and a sense of being able to help people, doing what I do best," Steven said. "It's some of the best tat- tooing I've ever done." A mastectomy is the clinical proce- dure through which a breast, includ- ing the nipple and areola, is removed. A lateral mastectomy is the removal of one, and a bilateral mastectomy is the removal of both breasts. A lumpectomy, also com- mon, is the surgery to remove can- cerous or abnormal tissue from one's breast. Renewing body and soul The procedure leaves a scar — on the person's body, soul, heart; the wound will often run deeper than the flesh. Tattoos can cover the scars of surgery with art for those with scars or by providing a nipple and areola for those who went through recon- struction. Nipple and areola tattooing has been offered for years by the medical community, but it is nowhere near as detailed or intricate as what Steven does. He is careful not to criticize the medical community, and instead points to differences among profes- sionals. "From the medical standpoint, it's more of a clinical requirement than an artistic goal," Steven said. Steven first experienced nipple and areola tattooing with a woman who visited the doctor twice to get her clinical tattoos fixed, and still felt frustrated. Steven fixed her tattoos, and helped heal her soul. "She said she felt like a woman again," Steven said. "It's definitely one of the most uplifting moments of my tattoo career. Right then and there, I knew this was something I wanted to pur- sue and do more of." Steven works with the survivors to determine what they want and how they want the new nipple and areola to look. Matching one nipple to another, in the instance of a bilateral mastectomy, is challenging. It's also a challenge to recreate a nipple and areola for a survivor with a bilateral mastectomy. Most women don't consider what their nipples and areola look like until both are gone. From scars to art Krischan's tattoo experience with breast cancer survivors runs an alternate gamut, and she and Steven together encompass the tattoo options for women struggling to move on from an unwanted curse. Krischan said her work with sur- vivors is centered more on covering the unsightly scars left behind by the mastectomy process. Krischan said the tattoo or tattoos that cover breast cancer scars are often large, and take several hours to complete. Waukesha's Jedi Tattoo is the Mil- waukee-area host of this year's P.Ink event. Krischan and Steven partici- pated in the event last year, and Rachelle is involved again this year. Local artists will tattoo breast can- cer survivors for free during the day- long event Oct. 28 at Jedi Tattoo. It is a day of liberation and redemption for survivors, and a day for artists to impact the world yet again. "It's very, very emotional," Krischan said. "You have this warm feeling going you through, and it's happiness. There's so much love going through one room it's kind of scary." FREEMAN & ENTERPRISE LAKE COUNTRY • Page 3A October 2016 252329006 O p en House Thursday, November 10, 2016 4:00 p.m. ‒ 7:00 p.m. Richard T. Anderson Education Center WCTC Pewaukee Campus, 800 Main Street, Pewaukee Come to WCTC's REGISTER online www.wctc.edu/open-house phone 262.691.5129 Explore your many options. Visit with faculty and view labs/classrooms. Meet Admissions, Advising and Financial Aid reps. Receive a voucher to apply for FREE! Standard $30 application fee waived. Walk-in's welcome (TXDO2SSRUWXQLW\$IÀUPDWLYH$FWLRQ(PSOR\HU(GXFDWRU 252358001 Shaken to the core but still standing strong By Chris Bennett Special to The Freeman On the surface, my wife, Rachel Bennett, does not look like a woman who is still get- ting over and moving past breast cancer. She sports a full head of hair. Her finger- nails are no longer shredding away due to the effects of chemotherapy, nor is her skin so dry it hurts to hug. Rachel and our family learned of her can- cer in August 2014. I wrote a column for this publication in October of that year, reveal- ing what it is like to get that news and work through the initial feelings, thoughts, fears and more. Last October, in this publication, I penned a column discussing her successful surgery and recovery, and declaration from her doc- tors that, for now, she is cancer-free. And now? Physically, she's in great shape. Mentally, spiritually and emotionally, she's still recovering. Mentally, spiritually and emotionally, I am still recovering, and this is a fresh realization. I kicked a lot of cans down the road dur- ing Rachel's treatment and recovery. I ignored my feelings and emotions in favor of directing everything I could muster at Rachel, our three daughters and our shared life. I focused on surviving moments. I focused on getting through each day and each treat- ment. I recall once thinking it all wouldn't be so bad if we just got a break. Cancer does- n't take breaks. It's a relentless predator — it's the black mamba or great white shark of diseases. I decided, from the very start, we would do what was necessary to hopefully survive the experience, and pick up the pieces and assess the damage sometime later. Later is now. I know I need to restore my relationship with the Almighty. I'm a bit upset with him. I'm not suddenly a secular humanist, and I'm not sufficiently self-absorbed to be an atheist and yes, I know exactly how that sounds. Rachel and I will deal with ramifications from cancer for years to come. I know the price she paid — for what? If God allowed the disease to occur then why should I pray to him for her safety and well-being? I keep wondering how disappointed my current attitude might make the nuns of my Catholic school childhood. I attended Catholic grade school in Burlington barely 20 years after the Second Vatican Council. Sisters Ann Therese, Joselda, Christine, Joan or Angelora — yes, Angelora — drilled me and my classmates in the lessons faith and reverence should play in one's life. I prayed for Rachel during diagnosis and treatment, and I gave thanks for her safe deliverance through the ordeal. There was little any of us could do, aside from that. We either caught the predator in time, or we didn't. Rachel would either respond to treat- ment or she would likely die. It was just that simple and just that sad. The nagging thought that plagued me and is still vexing is why did a just and loving God touch my wife with cancer? I know the dogmatic and biblical answers. They are of little comfort. I helped Rachel shave her head at our dining room table. I watched her sob when she tried adjusting an uncooperative wig in the mirror. I've seen her scars, and know they run the deep- er than the skin shows. Equally vexing is I will never have the answers to these questions. Like tomorrow, answers are promised to no one. I just need to be mad at the Almighty for a time. I know this offends some of you who relied on faith during a time of trial. I refuse to say my faith is dead or dormant, but will not claim it is thriving. There is so much good in our home right now. Our children are thriving and Rachel is healthy. I remind myself to try to have faith, and remind myself that all things do eventually turn to good. It's happening as we speak. At the very least, she is still here. Two years in, family's cancer battle still day by day Submitted photo The Bennett family posed for a portrait in August. Top left, clockwise, Amelie, Margaret, Chris, Eleanor, Rachel. Breast cancer journeys written in ink for survivors Women find tattoos a source of permanent renewal Make dreams come true for those on your list this season with special gift ideas from our annual Holiday Wishbook. Coming in our November 21 edition. Lake Country T H I S M O N T H Submitted photo Rachelle Krischan applies a tattoo to Angela Covert of Waukesha, as part of Covert's recovery from breast cancer surgery. Bagpipes From Page 1A "The types of bagpipes I make I like to think of as the Stradivarius of bagpipes." Donaldson uses blocks of African Black- wood, a dense wood he gets from Tanza- nia, to carve out the intricate pieces of the pipes. From start to finish, Donaldson says, he can complete a bagpipe in three weeks, that is if doing s is his only focus at the time. Donaldson does not teach making bag- pipes at the school for safety reasons; however, he would possibly consider it if the students acquire parental permission. He still makes bagpipes in his spare time, but not for commercial reasons. "Hands On" is a 90minute DVD documen- tary created by Cottage Grove resident Bob Leff. The documentary covers the practices and products of five crafters. "They were unique and unusual individu- als who were dedicated and devoted to their work," said Leff. "They're all devoted to the traditional ways and maintaining working by hand." The documentary can be found at VAP- Films.com. Email: afencl@conleynet.com

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