Monday, April 19, 2010

So Very Much More Than Fabric ....



Saturday I made another blanket delivery to 4E and although I say I,there would have been absolutely no possible way for that delivery to happen if not for the selfless giving of so many others.The generous giving of peoples time,talent and treasure made this 3rd delivery of The Heart Blanket Project a reality.Boxes of blankets arrived on my porch from friends,family and even strangers.Money was donated anonymously to purchase fabric.Local friends and even those on their vacations,took time out of their lives to pitch in.Blogging friends,caring for their very own families and caring most especially for their very own fragile children,helped me get this done.So to all of you,that continue to astound me,support me and keep me humble,I thank you from the very depths of my very,very grateful heart.

When we began The Heart Blanket Project,that project was born primarily out of the desire to bring color,warmth and a piece of home to the often sterile environment families and children find themselves thrown into.It was that simple.On Tuesday March 30th,all that changed.Mid morning that day I received a text message from our sweet friend Christopher's mom.I asked her the other day if I might share with you what she wrote.I think Marisa,Christopher's mom,is exceptionally brave and I stand in awe that during her grief, that she would allow me to repeat such a personal,intimate and profoundly heartbreaking part of their story,Christopher's story,with you.That morning,she wanted me to know, that Christopher died wrapped in the blanket that I made for him and that blanket would remain always, a most precious,precious gift to her.I had no words then,nor do I now.However,what I do know,is that I will do all I can to make sure this project keeps going.For although we know that each blanket is cut and tied and presented with great love and abundant prayer,we now know that these blankets are far more than the fabric they are made from.I will never again shop for fabric or make another blanket without pausing and thinking of our beloved Chris.I will never again hand another blanket to one of these warrior children without realizing that I may never know what that blanket will come to mean to them or their families.

Another gift left behind by one of our friends,gone too soon.I will never,ever be able to reconcile that but I will strive to move forward and honor them in whatever way I can and I thank you for helping me along the way.

12 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh Heather...

as someone who spends alot of time in the hospital blankets like that can make all the difference. Your right, adding color, warmth...love, can be huge to people like us.

With love...your amazing
Kate

mandd3 said...

I have two prayer blankets that were made for Tomas. I never go to the hospital without them. Even during the scramble to leave for ER I make sure those are two of the things I grab. There is a quilt, popping with color that I lay on top of the bed to deaden the "sterile" environment. It has strings on it that people can tie a knot in when they say a prayer for him. The other is smaller and knit by a woman from my MIL's parish. It has been with him through all his surgeries. Those blankets mean so much to me. They are tactile reminders that the world outside exists, and that it cares. You are doing something much larger than you realize.

Lacey said...

When I found out that a baby passed in the blankie that I made, and that the mom now keeps it by her side, I knew making the blankies was more than me just loving it!
PS. I had my first anonymous dumb a@# comment left on my blog. Lets hope it doesn't continue and I have to make my comments come to me first!

Tricia said...

When my FigNewTon was just beginning to get sick, before we knew what she was fighting, someone knitted her a prayer shawl. She held on to that throughout her entire illness. Sometimes I would go into her room at night and finger the fringe and pray, tears streaming down my face. Even now, sometimes I see her draped in it and she says it reminds her that "people and God love me." I am sure the person who knitted this blanket has forgotten all about our little family after all these years, but I will never forget her.

Anna said...

As a knitter I can say that No,Tricia, when you have knit something for someone you never quit thinking of the recipient. It sometimes takes hundreds of hours for me to knit things and I keep a journal of the items Ive knit and what yarn I used. Im thankful God has given me the ability to do something with my creative time that could touch someone else. Thank you for sharing Heather. You are such a beautiful woman... your blankets are like arms wrapped around others in need. (love the pic of Zoey btw)

Anonymous said...

so inspiring to think little Christopher was wrapped in one of your "blankets". Makes the hair on my arms stand up, and tears in my eyes. Thank you to Christopher's mother for allowing you to share that with all of us in blog land.

Take care

Bluebelle

PS The extra special for me is that now I know exactly where in your house your photos are taken. lucky me. Love Zoey's photo. There's that famous smile again!

Googsmom said...

You are the BEST!!!!!

MoonDog said...

you know at first I thought, HEY! I could help! I can make some blankets! then I thought of Mary. Mary is the child of my husbands coworker. She has been battling neuroblastoma for about 3ish years. and now she has leukemia. and I thought hey! I could make a blanket for Mary. She isnt a child, she is a young adult, early 20s I think, but discovered her cancer at her going away to college physical. So anyways you have inspired me to start my own project. I will make and bring some blankets to University of MN for Mary and her friends there. How do I reach people to help out on this project? Im so glad you have done this where you live and so happy you inspired me to do it here. I am never so happy as when I am doing things for others. I really enjoy it. I am always looking for a way to change the world. thanks for giving me one more way!

Ivey's Mom said...

You are amazing. Ivey has a hand full of blankets that were made for her and they are the first I grab in 'moments'. Specialness. As I read this post all I could think is that you really never know or realize how far your wings stretch - who they touch - or how. What an honor to know that you made - literally - such an impact. Of course, your impact has resignated with us all the way across the United States. Wrap yourself in love tonight. You are loved by so many - and Zoey helped you find it.

My name is Sarah said...

Beautiful!!!

blogzilly said...

That just floors me. Floors.

And reminds me I should be doing something more with my own talents, to nurture and give hope to others.

There you go, inspiring me again. Becoming a REAL bad habit. :)

Maureen said...

Heather - we'd love to make some blankets. Do you only take the fleece tied ones?
mo