No one knew what was wrong with her — until an MRI found incurable disease. She turned her harrowing journey into unique art.

Nardiz Cook was alarmed when she felt a lump in her right breast in late 2018. Her OB/GYN was not: Cook was 38 years old and had no family history of cancer. Cook's doctor diagnosed her with fibrosis, a common condition that causes tissue to appear lumpy.

Cook calmed down, but almost two years later new symptoms appeared. She had severe headaches. She said she “vomited out of the blue.” Her ears were ringing. She had double vision and sometimes lost her vision. One day it took her 40 minutes for her vision to return.

But no matter how many doctors Cook visited, everything came back clear. She went to the emergency room in October 2021 and refused to leave without an answer.

“After several tests, again, my eyesight, my ears, everything you can imagine, the doctor said, 'You're fine.' I said, 'Doctor, I'm not okay,'” Cook recalls.

The doctor ordered an MRI. This showed that she had an aggressive cancer. Soon after, she was officially diagnosed with stage IV metastatic breast cancer that had spread to the brain.

“There was some meaning in those words—it was a path that felt right,” Cook said.

After learning about her options, Cook said she didn't want to focus on worst-case scenarios.

“It seemed to me: well, Nardiz, that’s all. This is your destiny. What are you going to do with her?

Focus on the “trophy”

Cook allowed herself to be walked along the “pink carpet” of breast cancer treatment. People who are initially diagnosed with stage IV cancer often have a worse prognosis than those diagnosed with earlier-stage disease that progresses, says Dr. Carmen Calfa, a Cook medical oncologist at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. Medical advances and tailored treatments can prolong a patient's life, Kalfa says, but treatment lasts a lifetime.

Radiation oncologist Dr. Jessica Meshman targeted the tumors in Cook's brain with radiation therapy. On the first day of treatment, Cook was intrigued by the custom-made thermoplastic mask that directed the radiation beams and protected healthy tissue.

“I saw this thing, this mask, and I said, ‘I can’t wait to finish these procedures because I’m going to take my mask home as a symbol, like it’s my trophy,’” Cook said.

Cook received several forms of radiation over the course of two years. When she felt claustrophobic inside the spaceship-like machine that provided treatment, or felt tired and sore at home, she thought about what she would do with the mask when it was no longer needed.

“This amazing symbol of strength”

Cook had her last radiation treatment in late 2022. She had two masks. A few months after finishing treatment, she splurged on quartz crystals.

“I had no idea. I didn’t have any money, but I just bought all these crystals,” Cook said. “I found myself just draping (the mask), decorating (it) with quartz.”

Cook thought the brilliant results were like something out of a movie or a dream. The next time Cook saw Meshman, she showed the doctor her photos of the mask. Meshman reached out to cancer center administrators to see if Cook's mask could be displayed there. It was installed in the lobby this fall.

“I just thought it would be incredible for other patients to see the power that she has in this piece,” Meshman said. “She took something that could be quite intimidating and turned it into an amazing symbol of strength.”

Cook's project grew as other patients began anonymously donating their masks. She called the collection “Shining Guardians.” Each mask was a new canvas.

“I learned a lot from each mask because each mask is a different material and I explore the materials and they lead me to stories, to knowledge. It’s very, very interesting,” Cook said. “And I have a lot of respect for this process because this mask, the person who donated this mask, doesn’t even know about it. But I respect them and wish them all the best.”

“I never thought about doing something like this”

Four years after her diagnosis, Cook, 44, is “doing amazing,” Meshman said. Kalfa said Cook is “blossoming” and that her ongoing hormone therapy treatment is going well.

Cook said she follows a four-step regimen: taking medication, going to regular meetings with Kalfa and Meshman, working on Shining Guardians and drinking a regular glass of red wine.

Cook's work was shown at a Miami gallery on Thursday. Twelve masks were presented – two from Cook and 10 from donors. Kalfa and Meshman were present.

One mask sparkles with thousands of mirrored glass shards, while another is inspired by the tribal dance of Cook's hometown in northern Mexico and features naturally shed deer antlers. The other is dotted with thousands of tiny religious figures called milagritos.

Other masks are covered with fish scales and shells. One resembled a knight's helmet decorated with leaves.

Cook, who comes from a family of artists, said it was very important to see all the masks collected and displayed, but this was her first such attempt.

“I would never have thought to do something like this with my own hands,” Cook said. “I don’t have to tell anyone how they feel when they see it. It is their own reflection, their own vision. I just hand them a candle so they can try out their mask one-on-one.”

Cook said she continues to collect donated masks and will continue to add to the Shining Guardians collection. Cancer has changed what she thought her life would look like, but she says it has also given her new purpose.

“I’m 44 years old and went through full menopause at 40,” Cook said. “It was difficult, but I just gave in. This influenced many decisions for me. I didn't have children. I realized: “You are not here to have children. You're here to be an auntie, and you're here to make Shining Guardians.”

Edited by

Lucia Suarez Sang