The quilt blocks signed in Providence make up this quilt top
Mass Harry wrote his first diary not long ago, 42 Years Old, Stage 4 Cancer, and a sequel, Update, 42 Years Old, Stage 4 Cancer. Many, many people were touched by his story. In his words:
arizonablue's quilt top
I am 42 years old. I have never smoked, I eat healthy, exercise on a regular basis, have run 1/2 marathons. I eat salad on a regular basis and have eaten high-fiber cereal for breakfast almost every day for the past 15 years. I KNEW I should have just been eating Fruity Pebbles all these years. I have been married for 17 years and have a 14 year old, an 8 year old and a 5 year old. They are pretty awesome.
10 weeks ago I was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. It has metastasized in my liver and lungs. As an added bonus my doctors have indicated I have a completely separate, unrelated, unexpainable kidney cancer. How they know they are unrelated, I can't say.
The good news is that MassHarry is responding well to chemo. But he still has treatment to go through. And so it seemed a good idea to make a community quilt for him -- so he can keep our good wishes and positive thought with him as he fights to regain his health. He responds well to community support, too! From his second diary:
Several people had indicated they wanted an update. I can FEEL the positive energy and love from this crazy community. I made my wife read all your comments. I think she is starting to get the whole KOS thing.
Thank you to ALL of you who offered warm words, support and prayers. I still have a VERY long road ahead of me, but it at least looks like some of the BIG potholes have been filled in, and those that are left are less likely to swallow me whole.
slksfca's quilt top
A community quilt contains messages from you written out in archival ink by me on muslin. The messages are then sewn into a colorful quilt by me and my sister. These quilts are a tangible expression of love and support, something that can be hugged, snuggled, cried into if necessary. They are also very useful items in treatment rooms. They keep the chill off and they also let the nurses know that the quilt owner has a lot of people behind him or her.
Smoh's quilt, showing the roses on the backing
If you would like to help with the expense of making the quilt (time and materials), here is a PayPal link (or message me for an address if you prefer to send a check). $10/message is suggested -- but if you cannot donate, please leave a message anyway and know that someone will have covered for you. Your kind words for Harry are of great value.
Goldie, our chief Quilt Inspector, checks out Adrian's quilt
These are the community quilts we have made to date:
othniel (cellulitis and ensuing complications)
exmearden (cancer of heart and lung, RIP)
MsSpentyouth (brain tumor)
Moe99 (lung cancer, RIP)
Michelle Caudle (ovarian cancer, RIP)
BFSkinner (lupus)
Kitsap River (long wait for kidney donor that ended 2/18/11)
Frederick Clarkson (blood clots)
Dreaming of Better Days (lymphoma)
one bite at a time (lost house and belongings to fire)
Timroff (cellulitis)
Sol Fed Joe (multiple cancers and health problems)
Brubs (AIDS, immune reconstitution syndrome)
rserven (gall bladder infection with dangerous complications)
grndrush (brain tumor, RIP)
ImpeachKingBushII (needs liver transplant)
andsarahtoo (lupus)
Frank Cocozzelli (muscular dystrophy)
luvsathoroughbred (breast cancer)
Predictor (stroke and HIV)
Austex54 (caretaker to othniel)
Theodore Olbermann, RIP
cskendrick (antibiotic resistant infection)
Keith Olbermann (caregiver to father)
Juan (cancer)
Ana (a young horse belonging to Juan, hit by truck)
MA Liberal’s mother (Alzheimer’s)
Charles CurtisStanley (caretaker to Kitsap River)
Lorikeet (cervical cancer)
Dr. Lori (metastatic cancer)
ulookarmless (cancer, heart condition, stroke)
riverlover (caregiver to husband suffering from liver failure, now widowed)
Melody Townsel (caregiver to dying father, now deceased)
dadanation (AIDS)
Dr. William F. Harrison (leukemia, RIP)
Larry Bailey (sudden loss of partner to heart attack)
ramara (adopted son with fetal alcohol syndrome)
Noor B (herniated disk from car accident)
Louisiana 1976 (fibromyalgia, severe arthritis, depression)
stumpy (MS, stroke, RIP)
bleeding heart's niece (cancer, RIP)
escapee (failure of corneal surgery)
SarahLee (lymphoma, Lyme Disease)
Bustergirl (ovarian cancer)
mimi's niece (cancer)
ZenTrainer (breast cancer)
Miss Blue (severe injury to shoulder, anxiety over coverage for surgery)
Granny Doc (bladder cancer, RIP)
mango (heart attack)
nudger (ovarian cancer, RIP)
DaNang65 (heart condition)
Lt. Choi (exhaustion)
Nurse Kelley (spinal stenosis)
Ben Masel (lung cancer, RIP)
Otterary Scribe (caregiver, grieving grandfather, grieving widower)
Aji (autoimmune diseases incl. fibromyalgia, inflammatory arthritis, & Chronic Epstein-Barr Virus Syndrome)
JaxDem (suddenly widowed)
DavidW (AIDS and other undiagnosed illness)
Jester the Marine (facing amputation of leg)
peregrine kate (endometrial cancer)
mimi (grief due to family illnesses)
alliedoc (endometrial cancer)
labwitchy (diffuse scleroderma)
Daily Kos (celebrating community)
belinda ridgewood (sudden loss of her mother)
princesspat (blood clots, deep vein thrombosis)
Scott Olsen (severe head injury)
SensibleShoes (caring for sister with brain cancer)
Joanna (cancer)
cany (grieving caretaker of mother with dementia)
Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse (breast cancer)
Scottie Thomaston (intense chronic pain from spine, kidney stones)
paradise50 (throat cancer)
woodtick (caregiver to mother with Alzheimer's)
BeninSC (mulitple fractures from bicycle accident)
Adrian (colon cancer)
Smoh (breast cancer, stroke, depression)
slksfca (sudden onset of arthritis requiring hip replacement)
See also these two thank you posts from multiple quilt recipients:
KosAbility: A Virtual Quilt for Sara and Ann, from Community Quilt recipients
We Have Something to Say to YOU, Sara R and winglion!
Detail of Adrian's quilt, showing a bit of "Carolina Blue"
These quilts are planned:
raina (grief)
earicicle (breast cancer)
llbear (brittle diabetic)
UnaSpensor (Lyme disease)
MA Liberal (caretaker to her mother who has dementia)
paradox (cyclical vomiting syndrome, PTSD, depression)
Ellinorianne (rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia)
MsGrin (life long heart problems requiring multiple surgeries)
PAYPAL LINK FOR MASSHARRY'S QUILT - THANK YOU!
Boots says, "Thank you for supporting community quilts!"
Namaste.