Cross Posted at Community Quilt Project
princesspat's quilt
Cany wrote about the ordeal of caring for a mother with dementia -- a dementia that caused her mother to be sometimes violent: My 98yo mom kicks my butt. There was more illness at play, though. Cany's mom also had a type of cancer called multiple myeloma. Not long ago, that cancer took her mother's life. Bidding my mom farewell was a lovely tribute to her mom by cany.
Scott Olsen's quilt, showing the backing
Cany has been through the wringer -- long years of being a caretaker are suddenly over. A difficult relationship has ended abruptly and she now feels somewhat adrift. This is when a person really needs their friends. One way to share your friendship with cany right now is to give a message for a love catcher quilt, one that I will transcribe in archival ink on muslin. Together, we can form an embrace of loving words that will never leave her.
princesspat's quilt, detail
So far, we have 31 messages -- I'll need at least 13 more to make a checkerboard pattern for cany. These people have left messages (check here if you don't remember whether you have left one yet or not):
1. Nurse Kelley
2. Blue jersey mom
3. Ann R
4. Triciawyse
5. cfk from the Thumb of Michigan
6. Purple Priestess
7. Aji
8. high unitas
9. Mayrose
10. Radical simplicity
11. operculum
12. swampyankee
13. Ebby
14. JoanMar
15. Princesspat
16. Louisiana1976
17. TokenLiberal
18. Alicia
19. Youffraita
20. NonnyO
21. Runaway Rose
22. Mcronan
23. arizonablue
24. My prayers are with you. Wrapping you in my heart and prayers. refinish69
25. Lizabet
26. Kerflooey
27. Leu2500
28. ZenTrainer
29. bigjacbigjacbigjac
30. Noor B
31. 4Freedom
Goldie inspects Aji's quilt
For inspiration, here are a few of cany's messages (you can see them all in the comments to the first quilt diary):
I know what you have been through. I have been there too. I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Your were a wonderful daughter to your mom. Peace. Blue jersey mom
You did all you could with grace and love.
Loosing a parent is such a blow even when we know it is coming.
Grieving has many stages do not be afraid to go through them. If you need we are here to lend a shoulder or a hand. I send you hugs and prayers. Ann R
You gave of yourself unselfishly and cared for your mother. It is the balm that will help you heal. high unitas
The pain you feel is a testament to your gracious heart. May this quilt bring you strength in the days to come. radical simplicity
cany, you always have friends here “You can make it, but it's easier if you don't have to do it alone.” operculum
Otteray Scribe's quilt
It takes time and materials to make these quilts. If you can contribute ($10/message is suggested), it is much appreciated. My sister and I depend upon this work for our living and we so appreciate your support. Here is a PayPal link or message me for a snail mail address if you prefer to send a check. If you cannot afford to donate, please leave a message anyway. Trust that someone will cover for you -- and your kind words will mean so much to cany.
Goldie inspects peregrine kate's quilt
These are the community quilts that have been made to date:
othniel (cellulitis and ensuing complications)
exmearden (cancer of heart and lung, RIP)
MsSpentyouth (brain tumor)
Moe99 (lung cancer)
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)
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)
mimi's quilt, detail
I am finishing the binding on Sensible Shoes' quilt now. We've begun work on Patriot Daily News Clearinghouse's quilt and have planned the medallion for indiecemopants' quilt.
alliedoc's quilt, detail
These quilts are planned:
Plutonium Page (pulmonary embolisms, pulmonary infarction)
MsGrin (life long heart problems requiring multiple surgeries)
UnaSpensor (Lyme disease)
MA Liberal (caretaker to her mother who has dementia)
paradox (cyclical vomiting syndrome, PTSD, depression)
woodtick (caretaker to mother who has Alzheimer's)
Ellinorianne (rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia)
Boots says, "Thank you for supporting community quilts!"
PAYPAL LINK FOR CANY'S QUILT - THANK YOU!
Namaste