Quilt for Neal
10-04-2010, 06:46 PM
#1
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Camarillo, California
Posts: 35,242
We host a small group Bible study in our home every Tuesday night. One of the couples in the group, Dan and Carolyn have Carolyn's brother Neal.
Neal was suffering with really really terrible headaches and mood swings last year. They finally diagnosed him with a type of brain tumor. They were going to try the Gamma Knife on him but he was in such pain and agony that he was ready to just end it all. They went into surgery and removed the tumor successfully at Easter time. However Neal is not recovering. He has not regained his swallow reflex and therefore has a stoma. He can't eat, can hardly talk. He's very weak and also combative. We have been praying for him and Dh has visited him in the the first care facility that he was in. This is now his third. DH also used to visit with him before his surgery.
Anyway, I got to thinking one night that I should make him a quilt to bring him some comfort and show him that he is loved and thought about. He loved his motorcycles. He will never ride again, even if he ever gets to "come home" So I ran to a couple of my shops and found some Motorcycle fabrics and the flames and whipped up this quilt for him.
Being that he is in a care facility, I realize that things disappear when residents may be taken to the hospital for treatment. I used my machine to stitch his name all around the entire quilt. I used my embroidery unit to stitch his name in neon orange on the front of the quilt and also to make a label that I sewed onto the back. For now his sister is keeping the quilt and bringing it in every time she visits him. He loved the quilt!! I was so happy that I could bring some sunshine into his really dark life right now.
She sent out an e-mail to all of us with pictures of Neal before and after surgery and with the quilt. It brought tears to my eyes and to the eyes of others in our small group.
a quote from Carolyn:
"TODAY, was a very special Sunday for Neal. I delivered a special gift, made just for him.
At church today, Gayle told me she had something to give me for Neal. This is one of the most beautiful gifts I've ever seen.
THANKS SO VERY DEEPLY FROM NEAL AND OUR FAMILY TO GAYLE AND JIM MOYER FOR THIS LOVELY GIFT!!
This afternoon, Megan and I went to visit Neal at Studio City rehab center and present to him, his new quilt!! It has patchwork of Harley Davidson motorcycles, flames, and other beautiful squares of color. The borders are completely edged with his name sewn/embroidered in, beautiful cursive stitching. On the reverse "blue" side, there is a "gift patch" endearing the quilt to Neal and showing him warm love and prayers for him. We shared it together with tears in our eyes, he really smiled, and really loved it.
Thanks to all of you as every prayer has really counted. He has been more calm lately and they will begin physical and occupational therapy with him tomorrow.
I wanted to share his happiness from today."
Neal was suffering with really really terrible headaches and mood swings last year. They finally diagnosed him with a type of brain tumor. They were going to try the Gamma Knife on him but he was in such pain and agony that he was ready to just end it all. They went into surgery and removed the tumor successfully at Easter time. However Neal is not recovering. He has not regained his swallow reflex and therefore has a stoma. He can't eat, can hardly talk. He's very weak and also combative. We have been praying for him and Dh has visited him in the the first care facility that he was in. This is now his third. DH also used to visit with him before his surgery.
Anyway, I got to thinking one night that I should make him a quilt to bring him some comfort and show him that he is loved and thought about. He loved his motorcycles. He will never ride again, even if he ever gets to "come home" So I ran to a couple of my shops and found some Motorcycle fabrics and the flames and whipped up this quilt for him.
Being that he is in a care facility, I realize that things disappear when residents may be taken to the hospital for treatment. I used my machine to stitch his name all around the entire quilt. I used my embroidery unit to stitch his name in neon orange on the front of the quilt and also to make a label that I sewed onto the back. For now his sister is keeping the quilt and bringing it in every time she visits him. He loved the quilt!! I was so happy that I could bring some sunshine into his really dark life right now.
She sent out an e-mail to all of us with pictures of Neal before and after surgery and with the quilt. It brought tears to my eyes and to the eyes of others in our small group.
a quote from Carolyn:
"TODAY, was a very special Sunday for Neal. I delivered a special gift, made just for him.
At church today, Gayle told me she had something to give me for Neal. This is one of the most beautiful gifts I've ever seen.
THANKS SO VERY DEEPLY FROM NEAL AND OUR FAMILY TO GAYLE AND JIM MOYER FOR THIS LOVELY GIFT!!
This afternoon, Megan and I went to visit Neal at Studio City rehab center and present to him, his new quilt!! It has patchwork of Harley Davidson motorcycles, flames, and other beautiful squares of color. The borders are completely edged with his name sewn/embroidered in, beautiful cursive stitching. On the reverse "blue" side, there is a "gift patch" endearing the quilt to Neal and showing him warm love and prayers for him. We shared it together with tears in our eyes, he really smiled, and really loved it.
Thanks to all of you as every prayer has really counted. He has been more calm lately and they will begin physical and occupational therapy with him tomorrow.
I wanted to share his happiness from today."
The whole quilt
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Neal embroidered in Neon Orange
[ATTACH=CONFIG]92809[/ATTACH]
The label on the back of quilt
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His name around edge of quilt
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10-04-2010, 08:37 PM
#7
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 3,357
What a beautiful, thoughtful, kind thing to make Neal his own quilt. I am sure it will bring happiness to him every time he looks at it. The way you stitched his name along the front was a great idea! I added Neal to my prayer list. Thank You for sharing this.
10-04-2010, 09:32 PM
#10
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 4,091
Heartbreaking story. Brain injuries are so difficult for both the patient and the family. I will pray for them all. The quilt is beautiful! I'm so glad they have someone as wonderful as you to help comfort him.
