NN13 Community Quilt Flashmob, photo by smileycreek
Smarx is a caregiver. She cares for her elderly mom who has suddenly gone into a dementia. In that dementia, she has become abusive -- and sometimes smarx just cries and cries. Angie in WA State contacted me about doing this quilt out of deep concern for her sister -- and in the process of starting the quilt message gathering, smarx became a Kossack.
Please give her a message of love and support. Think of all the caregivers out there who are in similar situation. In can feel so lonely, taking care of a fragile, elderly person who is slipping away mentally and acting out in a way that would never have happened before. A community quilt will surely help smarx when she is suffering from that feeling of painful isolation.
shanikka's quilt, detail
A community quilt contains words of love and support from you, transcribed by me onto muslin in archival ink. My sister and I make them with lots of colorful fabric -- and love. They are a group hug in a blanket -- and the love never, ever washes out.
Oke's quilt, detail
If you would like to contribute to the cost of making the quilt (time and materials), here is a PayPal link -- or message me for an address if you prefer a check. $15/message is suggested -- although some give more to cover for those who cannot afford to donate. All messages are welcome!
Clytemnestra's quilt
These people have given messages for smarx so far:
1. JekyllinHyde
2. cfk in the Thumb of Michigan
3. Angie in WA State
4. ZenTrainer
5. ramara
6. Kitsap River
7. Lorikeet
8. 2thanks
9. Pam from Calif
10. commonmass
11. michelewin
12. bookgirl
13. nomandates
14. Sara R
15. Avilyn
16. maggiejean
17. jlwinIL14
18. arizonablue
19. llbear
20. gchaucer2
21. Louisiana 1976
We're looking for at least 22 more messages. This quilt is currently underfunded by $273.
commonmass' quilt, detail
Here are a few of the messages so far:
Curl up in this patchwork of love, and let mind be at ease. Every word hugs. jlwinIL14
Sherri, the care you give is so very important and very often not appreciated. I am so glad your sister shared this story with us so you can experience the magic of this quilt as you wrap it around you for warmth and comfort. maggiejean
Thank you, for all you do. May you be blessed a thousand times over for your gifts of love to your mother. Sara R
A wish for Sherri:
Close your eyes when you touch this quilt,
and feel the comfort and loving thoughts
that we're sending to you and your family.
Take a deep breath, exhale, and relax.
Then keep on caring for yourself as well as for others.
~nomandates
You are not alone in this giving of self,
You are a valuable asset to your family & community,
You are a good Person,
Be at Peace. Pam from Calif
Carol in San Antonio's quilt, detail
These are the community quilts we have completed to date:
1. othniel (cellulitis and ensuing complications, RIP)
2. exmearden (cancer of heart and lung, RIP)
3. MsSpentyouth (brain tumor)
4. Moe99 (lung cancer, RIP)
5. Michelle Caudle (ovarian cancer, RIP)
6. BFSkinner (lupus)
7. Kitsap River (long wait for kidney donor that ended 2/18/11)
8. Frederick Clarkson (blood clots)
9. Dreaming of Better Days (lymphoma)
10. one bite at a time (lost house and belongings to fire)
11. Timroff (cellulitis)
12. Sol Fed Joe (multiple cancers and health problems)
13. Brubs (AIDS, immune reconstitution syndrome)
14. rserven (gall bladder infection with dangerous complications)
15. grndrush (brain tumor, RIP)
16. ImpeachKingBushII (needs liver transplant)
17. andsarahtoo (lupus)
18. Frank Cocozzelli (muscular dystrophy)
19. luvsathoroughbred (breast cancer)
20. Predictor (stroke and HIV)
21. Austex54 (caretaker to othniel)
22. Theodore Olbermann, RIP
23. cskendrick (antibiotic resistant infection)
24. Keith Olbermann (caregiver to father)
25. Juan (cancer)
26. Ana (a young horse belonging to Juan, hit by truck)
27. MA Liberal’s mother (Alzheimer’s)
28. Charles CurtisStanley (caretaker to Kitsap River)
29. Lorikeet (cervical cancer)
30. Dr. Lori (metastatic cancer)
31. ulookarmless (cancer, heart condition, stroke, RIP)
32. riverlover (caregiver to husband suffering from liver failure, now widowed)
33. Melody Townsel (caregiver to dying father, now deceased)
34. dadanation (AIDS)
35. Dr. William F. Harrison (leukemia, RIP)
36. Larry Bailey (sudden loss of partner to heart attack)
37. ramara (adopted son with fetal alcohol syndrome)
38. Noor B (herniated disk from car accident)
39. Louisiana 1976 (fibromyalgia, severe arthritis, depression)
40. stumpy (MS, stroke, RIP)
41. bleeding heart's niece (cancer, RIP)
42. escapee (failure of corneal surgery)
43. SarahLee (lymphoma, Lyme Disease)
44. Bustergirl (ovarian cancer)
45. mimi's niece (cancer, RIP)
46. ZenTrainer (breast cancer)
47. Miss Blue (severe injury to shoulder, anxiety over coverage for surgery)
48. Granny Doc (bladder cancer, RIP)
49. mango (heart attack)
50. nudger (ovarian cancer, RIP)
51. DaNang65 (heart condition)
52. Lt. Choi (exhaustion)
53. Nurse Kelley (spinal stenosis)
54. Ben Masel (lung cancer, RIP)
55. Otterary Scribe (caregiver, grieving grandfather, grieving widower)
56. Aji (autoimmune diseases incl. fibromyalgia, inflammatory arthritis, & Chronic Epstein-Barr Virus Syndrome)
57. JaxDem (suddenly widowed)
58. DavidW (AIDS and other undiagnosed illness)
59. Jester the Marine (facing amputation of leg)
60. peregrine kate (endometrial cancer)
61. mimi (grief due to family illnesses)
62. alliedoc (endometrial cancer, RIP)
63. labwitchy (diffuse scleroderma)
64. Daily Kos (celebrating community)
65. belinda ridgewood (sudden loss of her mother)
66. princesspat (blood clots, deep vein thrombosis)
67. Scott Olsen (severe head injury)
68. SensibleShoes (caring for sister with brain cancer)
69. Joanna (cancer)
70. cany (grieving caretaker of mother with dementia)
71. Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse (breast cancer)
72. Scottie Thomaston (intense chronic pain from spine, kidney stones)
73. paradise50 (throat cancer)
74. woodtick (caregiver to mother with Alzheimer's)
75. BeninSC (mulitple fractures from bicycle accident)
76. Adrian (colon cancer)
77. Smoh (breast cancer, stroke, depression)
78. slksfca (sudden onset of arthritis requiring hip replacement)
79. arizonablue (grief and exhaustion)
80. Lorikeet (grieving widow - this quilt was a gift from the Rescue Rangers)
81. remembrance (breast cancer) and Glen the Plumber (her caregiver)
82. MassHarry (colon cancer)
83. Regina in a Sears Kit House (severe immune problems from Lyme Disease)
84. nannyboz (grief for father, crippling back pain requiring surgery)
85. raina (grief)
86. earicicle (breast cancer)
87. AntKat (cancers of the throat, RIP)
88. Alma (breast cancer)
89. DarkHawk98 (lung cancer)
90. llbear (brittle diabetic)
91. michelewin (grief and trauma)
92. Dave in Northridge (grieving widower)
93. racheltracks (complications from knee surgery)
94. Ebby (grief and stress)
95. Leaves on the Current (cancer)
96. Carol in San Antonio (cancer)
97. commonmass (grieving widower)
98. Clytemnestra (DES daughter, debilitating abdominal pain and bleeding)
99. Oke (survived life threatening pulmonary infection, COPD, depression)
100. shanikka (diverticulitis, intestinal abscess and life threatening infection)
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!
Leaves on the Current's quilt
We've begun work on Serpent's Choice's quilt. We are collecting messages for this one and for FloridaSNMOM.
Ebby's quilt, detail
These quilts are planned:
paradox (cyclical vomiting syndrome, PTSD, depression)
UnaSpensor (Lyme disease)
MA Liberal (caretaker to her mother who has dementia)
Ellinorianne (rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia)
MsGrin (life long heart problems requiring multiple surgeries)
LorelieHI (PTSD, reversals of fortune, depression)
Goldie, our chief quilt inspector. Goldie had dental surgery yesterday and is beginning to feel better today.
PAYPAL LINK FOR SMARX'S QUILT - THANK YOU!
Boots says, "Thank you for supporting community quilts!"
Namaste.