Well, slowly my knitted monsters are finding new homes with adults and kids who live and fight on with chronic illness. I am taking monsters to my doctor and physical therapy appointments and giving them to patients who may need some monster help and hugs. The pain clinic has also asked if I can give them some monsters for their patients. Not sure how many monsters I will be making and what I will be able to commit to because of my own chronic health battles. But, it seems that monster giving is in high demand.
There are so many people in the world who are battling chronic conditions – from cancer, multiple sclerosis, Chari malformation, muscular dystrophy and much more. I hope we all find a way to help each other fight our own monsters in our lives.
One of my monster recipients is Charles. He was born with a genetic, life-threatening condition called Duchenne Muscular dystrophy. Duchenne MD has no cure. It is the most common form of muscular dystrophy in children, but affects only males. It appears between the ages of 2 and 6. The muscles decrease in size and grow weaker over time until they have stopped functioning altogether. Disease progression varies, but many sufferers need a wheelchair by the age of 12, as their arms, legs, and spine become progressively deformed. Severe breathing and heart problems mark the later stages of the disease. People who are diagnosed with Duchenne MD die young, living until their late teens or early 20s.
Charles loves his new monster. So far, the monster’s name is Grrr. I am so glad to give this monster to him as he fights his daily battles with Duchenne MD. To learn more about muscular dystrophy and find resources to help you raise your child with Duchenne MD, go to the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy web site.
There is also a wonderful documentary about another man who battled Duchenne MD and yet still pursued his dreams and life to the fullest. It can be seen below in a three part video.
What he shares about living with chronic illness reminds me that we are not alone in our battles. And we must keep going to live, create and give to the world around us. So, I challenge you to keep going, keep creating, and keep giving. A monster a day definitely chases some of my chronic blues away.
So, today I went for my annual mammogram appointment. Not something that I or my boobs look forward to, even though it really isn’t very high on the pain scale. My boobs are the only part of my body that chronic illness has not touched, and I would like to keep it that way. But, there is always a little bit of fear getting it done.
Well, I have a good friend in the UK who is battling a second round of a very rare, life-threatening cancer. Her name is Julia. I sent her a care package with her very own monster, and she loved it. Her monster, Dot, is going with her to her chemo appointments.
Mammograms and Monsters
I was thinking of Julia as I got ready for my mammogram appointment. I said a few prayers as I ‘rushed’ out my door, cane in hand. And, at the last minute, I grabbed my Hug Me monster. I decided that today I was going to give this monster to someone undergoing chemo treatments for their cancer, so that they have a monster to help them fight this battle they are facing.
I was not sure how I was going to do it, but I knew it was what I wanted to do today. My random act of kindness. A place of gratitude. I only get a small amount of chemo medicine each week with the methotrexate, and it still steals my spoons.
After speaking to a couple of staff persons and a nurse in the outpatient treatment area in the cancer center, I was allowed to leave my monster to be given away to a patient of their choosing. But, as I was ready to go, the nurse introduced me to a family, and a young woman who was undergoing her own chronic health battles. Today was her chemo treatment day.
I spent a few moments with Angelica and her mom and dad, explaining why I am knitting monsters and how I wanted to give this one to her. The family hugged me with thanks and gratitude, and let me take this picture.
It just made me feel like I was winning my own battles too.
So, now the tradition of mammograms and monsters is here to stay. Every year on my appointment day, I am bringing a monster or two to give to a random patient undergoing treatment for their cancer. I am actually looking forward to next year’s appointment. Knitting has saved my life from endless bad days. Hopefully, these monsters will save someone too.
So, what about you? Will you start your own monster giving tradition?
So, my monster family keeps growing. Some have found new homes, and others are here to stay. Monster knitting is definitely addicting. Below are some pictures of the latest monsters that have been knitted together. They are all patterns from the Book of Knitted Monsters by Rebecca Dangerfield.
Kkhymn's Corner 