Why the butterfly in my neck? The thyroid gland kind of looks like a little butterfly as it sits on your larynx. The butterfly is also the symbol of thyroid cancer survivors as well (no, I dont have cancer, but I like the transformational inspiration associated with the butterfly).
January is Thyroid Awareness Month, and thyroid patient and talented artist Allyson Jones Averell of New Jersey was looking for a way to commemorate the month with her art.
The result? Ally did this extraordinary facepainting on herself, featuring a butterfly - a common symbol used to signify the thyroid gland -- along with gladiolus flowers. Ally chose the gladiolus because this flower stands for "strength of character."