Chemo Quilt Follow-Up
 

I'm now out of town to visit with my family who has breast cancer. She was overwhelmed by the simple quilt, and extraordinarily grateful. She loved the bright cherry colors, truly appreciated the pocket for her feet, and was thankful for the warm flannel backing. For all here who offered suggestions, thank you so much.


For those of you who make these quilts for people undergoing chemo: know that even though you are not there to see it, the recipients are so very, very appreciative. You've made their lives a little bit easier in a time of pain and worry.


One more thing. A wonderfully kind woman from this board mailed me a mastectomy pillow and some caps. I had never heard of them before nor seen them. My family member cried when she was shown what the pillow was and how to use it. She slept comfortably for the first time since her surgery that night. What a blessing! Thank you. I will now be making them and giving them away to pay it forward.


We cannot do anything about this horrible disease, but we can do these small things, and what a difference they make! <3

Is there a place where we can get the patterns for the chemo quilt and the caps? I am sure there is a need for them in my area.

The pillow sounds like a wonderful idea. So glad you were able to provide some comfort for her.

It is great to help others and "to pay it forward".

You are a good friend!
If you google "mastectomy pillow pattern" there are several patterns and articles that come up. A small pillow can be used in the car to make the seat belt more comfortable. Open heart surgery patients also can use a pillow, (also called a cardiac pillow) they gave one to my dad in the hospital.

The pillow I received was a beautiful heart shape and fit perfectly under her arm with a slightly rounder dip in the curve of the heart so it fit perfectly under her arm. It was made from a cuddly, soft fleece. When she saw how it was used, her eyes truly lit up. It most certainly eased her discomfort in the car, when sleeping, and when receiving visits from young family members.

Good people do good things for others. Your family member will think of you every time she uses her pillow and quilt. What a nice thing to do! I will be looking up the directions for the pillows.

I have never heard of these pillows. Thank you for sharing and it sounds like you have been a real blessing through your gifts and your care. God bless you and your friend.

That was such a thoughtful thing to do. It means so much to her, and others like her.

Great story. Prayers for total recovery

Now that's what giving a quilt is all about. It doesn't have to be perfect to bring someone joy.

Our church made post-mastectomy pillows and donated them to the surgeon of a woman at church. She loved her pillow but said it kept sliding around and she would loose it at night. I put straps on each top corner to tie on the shoulder. She loved it. We also put pockets on each side of the pillow to be used for ice or heat and the other side for book, chapstick, tissues, cell phone... Surgeon loved them and requested more.

Gave a quilt to dear friend to has cancer. I vist/chat with her once a week. Yesterday she told me she naps with her "blankie" everyday and her sister had to pry in away to wash it. She says it brings her such comfort. So now I"m on a mission to make another one for her...for when her sister washes the first one!

So glad to have seen this post...have been looking for smaller worthwhile projects to do right now and this seems to be definitely a worthwhile endeavor...Thank you for sharing with her and us...

Great idea! I will add some features to mine as well.

Open heart surgery patients LOVE their heart pillows. They hold it against them when told to cough, to clear the lungs and guard against pneumonia. My husband fell in love with his the way a toddler does a stuffed animal. Whoever makes these pillows for hospital use are angels, indeed!

What a thoughtful thing to do. I'll be looking up the pattern myself.

TY for this info that is new to me. I also make comfort quilts and am excited for another way l can contribute. I will have to get online to learn a lot more, and at my age that's a good thing too.

Great ideas! When my husband had heart surgery they gave him a special teddy bear. Its arms go straight up instead of to the side, and it is quite stiff in the body, so he could hold it against him to cough as mentioned above. It was wearing a little tee shirt with the name of the hospital on it, but DH took that off.

What a blessing you have been to your family member. I always feel so helpless when someone I know has cancer. Making a quilt or a pillow sounds like a wonderful thing to do. Prayers and best wishes for a full recovery.

Thanks! I will be looking for this.

That's wonderful about your making the quilt for your friend. I know that she will cherish it. Our quilting group occasionally makes quilts via the James Sisters who give the quilts to anyone who is taking chemo at Ohio State University Hospital.

I'm new to these boards, and am a breast cancer survivor-I'm very interested in the quilt you made for your family member. Can you tell me what kind of patter you followed? I want to start making quilts for the chemo dept where I was treated :)

I think it's wonderful that you were able to give your family member her "chemo" quilt in person so that you could see the joy on her face. it was a great thing that you did, and I like the idea of a pocket to put your feet into; I think that's a great idea for a lap quilt when it's a cold winter and you want to snuggle under a nice quilt. May your family member have a speedy recovery. God bless.

Do you have the pattern for that pillow?
My DIL is having surgery in a month and I would love to make her some of those.
Thank you,

Thank you.

On the last post I wrote about doing quilts for cancer. On page 3 I think --Had I looked ahead I would have writin here about the flannel backs.

That's a very nice thing to do. I'm glad she liked it.

There really are so many compassionate people around us. Many, many times we think our own act of kindness, no matter how small, goes unnoticed but it doesn't. I had that surgery over 20 yes ago and would have loved all of the items. Let's keep giving from our hearts anytime we can. Such a thoughtful thing to do.

Have not seen the mastectomy pillows. I am a breast cancer survivor and would like to pay it forward. Any pics available?

Thanks for the link!

Embroidery Library has a pillow that a friend made and gave to me when I had my surgery. It has ties on it so I could hang it off my shoulder. I still use it in the car with my seat belt. Since I just had one breast removed (Or if they have a lumpectomy) it will also be a signal to those around them that that side is the most sensitive.

I had one of those pillow from last surgery and it was truly a helpful thing to have! So glad she love her quilt and the others items!