Center medallion for Regina in a Sears Kit House's quilt -- yes, it depicts the actual Sears Kit House!
Our friend and community angel, llbear, is a brittle diabetic. This means it is often a struggle for him to control his blood sugar. This man who has been an absolute rock for so many people has many miseries of his own related to this condition. There's many a time when he's been home alone suffering -- and I know, because I call him or he calls me. My sister and I have taken him to the ER when necessary, too. A community quilt would help our bear know he has depths of support even when he is sitting alone at home. He needn't feel blue because of this frustrating illness. We can lift him!
backing for nannyboz' quilt -- it will complement the ladybugs (more on that when the quilt is completed!)
Diabetes can result in a myriad of problems, including (but not limited to!) problems with the healing of wounds or with fighting infection, problems with circulation in the feet which can lead in turn to amputation, failure of eyesight, increased chance of heart attack or stroke, kidney damage, mental confusion, depression, and coma. And death. It can also cause death. Llbear provided me with a couple links with information about this horrible disease:
Diabetes in the Elderly: A Growing Concern
Mayo Clinic: Diabetes symptoms: When diabetes symptoms are a concern
Mayo Clinic: In-Depth, Diabetes
Mayo Clinic: Diabetes prevention: 5 tips for taking control
MassHarry's quilt
If you are new to the quilt diaries, let me explain what this is about. A community quilt contains supportive messages from you (left in the comments below) which I transcribe in archival ink on muslin. They are then incorporated into a colorful quilt. This one will help llbear keep his legs warm in the cooler months -- he doesn't have much feeling in his legs but it is important that he keep them warm when the temperatures drop. It will also remind him of all the people who love and appreciate him -- it will warm his heart any time of the year! As an added bonus, I understand that community quilts are very helpful in hospital situations -- they show the nurses that the person in question has people behind them. Llbear spends a fair amount of time at the VA hospital and this quilt will help him secure the attention he needs and deserves.
Detail of remembrance's quilt
It takes time and materials to make a quilt like this -- and my sister and I make our small living by making them. If you would like to help with the cost of making llbear's quilt, here is a PayPal link -- or message me for an address if you prefer to send a check. $10/message is suggested. Some people cannot afford to donate but would like to leave a message -- if you can help others participate, it is so appreciated! Share the love!
arizonablue's quilt top
Regina in a Sears Kit House's quilt top is being finished and will be layered for quilting tomorrow. Half the blocks for nannyboz's quilt are done and I am working on transcribing her messages.
Goldie inspects Adrian's quilt
These are community quilts we have completed 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)
arizonablue (grief and exhaustion)
Lorikeet (grieving widow - this quilt was a gift from the Rescue Rangers)
remembrance (breast cancer) and Glen the Plumber (her caregiver)
MassHarry (colon cancer)
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!
slksfca's quilt, basted for quilting
These quilts are planned:
raina (grief for mother)
Carol in San Antonio (cancer)
earicicle (breast cancer)
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)
LorelieHI (PTSD, reversals of fortune, depression)
quilt top for a man with cancer, commissioned by his friends -- we do these quilts for small groups who wish to support an ailing friend -- message me for info
PAYPAL LINK FOR LLBEAR'S QUILT - THANK YOU!
Boots says, "Thank you for supporting community quilts!"
Namaste