Etaria
October 23rd, 2006, 03:17 PM
Well, the other night I was on the phone with my grandmother. I talk to her often- she by the way is the one who taught me to crochet at 9 years of age. She is a most wise, warm wonderful soul one could ever know. Here are a couple photos of her-
Dorothy: A woman of strength, bravery and compassion for others.
http://www.crochetgarden.com/cville/granny1.jpg http://www.crochetgarden.com/cville/granny2.jpg
While on the phone with her, she asked me if I had any questions for her. I said no, why and she said she is "cleaning house." And I asked her what is going on and then she asked me another question. "What would you do if you had a condition, would you confront your doctor?" And I said why would you need to confront your doctor if you already know you have the condition. And she said "to find out how long you have." Finally, I got it out of her that she has Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia. It is a super rare form of cancer. Over the past few years, her eye sight has been deteriorating, so much that now she can no longer crochet, but only knit by feel. She can see, but it is very difficult and she cannot see anything small, and she has to turn her head. She can no longer do what she truly loves, crafts- beading, crocheting, sewing, etc. This cancer over time attacks 1 system after another.
What is worse, is that she has not told anyone except her 3 children (one of them my father), and she was diagnosed 5 years ago. The 3 are not the easiest to talk to... and finally she poured out her soul to me. I cannot begin to imagine how much she has been carrying around with her for the past 5 years. From what I could gather, it seems prognosis is maybe about 7-9 years after diagnosis.
I could very easily make an afghan for her, but I thought since crocheting was basically her entire life, that having something made from many crocheters with love would mean a lot to her. That these are people who admire my deisgn work, and that it is all attributed to her - A way to thank her- that if it wasn't for her, I would not be where I am at today, designing beautiful patterns, with so many people loving my work, that began with her, a summer day on the couch, at 9 years old, making that first baby blanket of sc, that she still have to this day. Then she could see, so many people who have been touched through crochet, and how many people she has touched through me, by being so patient and teaching me this beautiful art.
Revised:
Material: Acrylic
Colors: Any variations/combinations of solids/ombres etc: lavender, white, purple, blue (pale blue to dark blue)- I think all the contrast would be beautiful and help her see it better.
Size: 12"
I have never done this before, so am very open to suggestions. I will be giving it to her in person, and of course will get many photos!!
Thank you so much :)
EDIT: ok, i talked to her and hah I was wrong.. it is lavender she is passionate for..
Dorothy: A woman of strength, bravery and compassion for others.
http://www.crochetgarden.com/cville/granny1.jpg http://www.crochetgarden.com/cville/granny2.jpg
While on the phone with her, she asked me if I had any questions for her. I said no, why and she said she is "cleaning house." And I asked her what is going on and then she asked me another question. "What would you do if you had a condition, would you confront your doctor?" And I said why would you need to confront your doctor if you already know you have the condition. And she said "to find out how long you have." Finally, I got it out of her that she has Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia. It is a super rare form of cancer. Over the past few years, her eye sight has been deteriorating, so much that now she can no longer crochet, but only knit by feel. She can see, but it is very difficult and she cannot see anything small, and she has to turn her head. She can no longer do what she truly loves, crafts- beading, crocheting, sewing, etc. This cancer over time attacks 1 system after another.
What is worse, is that she has not told anyone except her 3 children (one of them my father), and she was diagnosed 5 years ago. The 3 are not the easiest to talk to... and finally she poured out her soul to me. I cannot begin to imagine how much she has been carrying around with her for the past 5 years. From what I could gather, it seems prognosis is maybe about 7-9 years after diagnosis.
I could very easily make an afghan for her, but I thought since crocheting was basically her entire life, that having something made from many crocheters with love would mean a lot to her. That these are people who admire my deisgn work, and that it is all attributed to her - A way to thank her- that if it wasn't for her, I would not be where I am at today, designing beautiful patterns, with so many people loving my work, that began with her, a summer day on the couch, at 9 years old, making that first baby blanket of sc, that she still have to this day. Then she could see, so many people who have been touched through crochet, and how many people she has touched through me, by being so patient and teaching me this beautiful art.
Revised:
Material: Acrylic
Colors: Any variations/combinations of solids/ombres etc: lavender, white, purple, blue (pale blue to dark blue)- I think all the contrast would be beautiful and help her see it better.
Size: 12"
I have never done this before, so am very open to suggestions. I will be giving it to her in person, and of course will get many photos!!
Thank you so much :)
EDIT: ok, i talked to her and hah I was wrong.. it is lavender she is passionate for..