Vetwife’s quilt top
Namvetkato (Vetwife’s husband, Jack) has experienced a steep decline in his health in recent months. He is confined to a wheelchair now and almost never leaves the house. Jack is in constant pain because of his exposure to Agent Orange. He’s got bone spurs up and down his spine, spinal stenosis and peripheral neuropathy. Any sudden movement can cause him to cry out in pain. He also has heart troubles that have required two stents. And he has PTSD to the degree that sometimes he finds himself reliving, in every horrible detail, one of the deadliest battles of the Vietnam War, Operation Ripcord, in which he had served as part of the Special Forces. And he has COPD, making it very hard to breathe.
Jack’s world has become smaller, sitting in his wheelchair, unable to play with his daughter, sometimes not even able to play his beloved music. But I hope we can help make it a little larger through the love in a community quilt, made just for him. We are 27 messages and $312 short for this quilt.
LoreleiHI’s quilt, showing backing
What is a community quilt? It is a quilt containing messages from you transcribed by me in archival ink. Jack will be able to draw support from your loving words any time he needs to. He’ll be able to rest under his quilt, smile with it, and even cry into it if necessary. We’ll all be there for him in a colorful blanket.
LoreleiHI’s quilt
It takes time and material to make a community quilt — and it is our small living. If you would like to donate toward the cost of making it as well as leaving a message, here is a PayPal link — or message me for an address if you prefer a check. $15/message is suggested but some give more to cover for messages of those who cannot afford to donate — for all loving words are welcome.
Backing fabric for Vetwife’s quilt
Vetwife’s quilt will be done in less than a week. We are collecting messages for Annalyze5 who has lung cancer and a lot of other serious ailments.
UnaSpenser’s quilt, showing backing
These people have left messages for Jack so far:
1. broths
2. JaxDem
3. llbear
4. blue jersey mom
5. angelajean
6. Petesmom
7. Kitsap River
8. Pam from Calif
9. ZenTrainer
10. Chacounne
11. Bit (FloridaSNMom’s daughter)
12. mimi
Paradox’s quilt
Need inspiration? Here are some of Jack’s messages:
May you feel the love, warmth, and healing of this community, as you are wrapped in this quilt. Thank you for your service. broths
Wrapped in this quilt, I hope you feel our love and friendship from across the miles. angelajean
Namvetkato: Strong from the beginning, strong to the end. Please find peace wrapped in the words of your friends. Petesmom
Sending you energy for strength, healing, ease of pain, and for life to bring you renewed enjoyment. May all go well with you, dear Jack. With love, Kitsap River
{{{{{{{namvetkato}}}}}}} May the strength and love stitched into the very fabric of this quilt help you to know how very much you are loved, and may it bring healing. Thank you for your service. With gratitude and respect, Love and Hugs and Prayers, For Dan, Heather, (Chacounne) The widow of a Vietnam vet
Jack: Thank you for letting me talk to you and sing Ramones with you at the meet up! It meant a lot to me and is one of my favorite memories! Sending you lots of hugs to get better! Bit (FloridaSNMom’s daughter)
Timaeus’ quilt, detail
These are the community quilts 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)
101. Serpents Choice (grief)
102. smarx (caregiver to mother who has dementia)
103. FloridaSNMOM (COPD, chronic pain, anxiety over access to health care)
104. Timaeus (enormous hernia requiring major surgery)
105. paradox (cyclic vomiting syndrome, PTSD, depression)
106. UnaSpenser (Lyme Disease)
107. LoreleiHI (reversals of fortune, homelessness, hearing loss, PTSD)
See also these three posts about the community quilt project:
KosAbility: A Virtual Quilt for Sara and Ann, from Community Quilt recipients
We Have Something to Say to YOU, Sara R and winglion!
Community Quilt FlashMob Brightens up NN13
FloridaSNMOM’s quilt, detail
These quilts are planned:
MA Liberal (caretaker to her mother who has dementia)
Ellinorianne (rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia)
MsGrin (life long heart problems requiring multiple surgeries)
Goldie, our Chief Quilt Inspector
PAYPAL LINK FOR NAMVETKATO’S QUILT – THANK YOU!
Boots says, “Thank you for supporting community quilts!”
Namaste.