Quilt #32 Raeleigh donated by Sandra Chin

This beautiful quilt was designed and donated by Sandra Chin.She fussy cut all the little
bears and made this charming scrappy quilt. I will definately steal the pattern and
I continue to be awed by her generousity to me and The Duncan Project.

Quilt #32 was given to an adorable 2 year old girl named Raeleigh. This little one has cancer and is soon to go through what is hoped to be her last round of chemo. Her story is still being written.

Since I began this project, I have become so very aware of how many people are struggling with cancers of all types and varieties. My own mother had breast cancer less than a year ago. What I probably didn't fully appreciate is the number of children and young adults battling this monster.

My love and thoughts go out to this little one.

Love in the stitches....

       

Quilt #31 Kevin

I adore the prints in this quilt. Reminds me of home.

Quilt #31 was given to a friend of mine from high school. My friend was recently diagnosed with an aggresive form of cancer.  He will endure multiple rounds of chemo that are administered every three weeks or so.  The process of recovery after each round is exhausting. To that end, I let him know that we do not need photos or his story in his own words right now. He may choose to share some of his experience at a later date.

Thinking about the gift of this quilt caused me to begin pondering about what it means to turn our hearts in prayer on behalf of others. How many times do we respond to a troubled Facebook post with "sending prayers."

What is the value of this type of prayer? I know I have been on the receiving end of prayers in recent days. Knowing that others were praying for me as I faced our trials provided an extra measure of comfort. I experienced feelings of love and connectedness and my burden was made lighter as I knew I was not carrying it alone.

I started looking for articles on the subject and found a quote by David A. Bednar:

Petitioning Heavenly Father for the blessings we desire in our personal lives is good and proper. However, praying earnestly for others...is also an important element of meaningful prayer. Just as expressing graittude more often in our prayers enlarges the conduit for revelation, so praying for others with all of the energy in our souls increases our capacity to hear and to head the voice of the Lord."

Sandra Chin
My favorite binder.

In a message I received from Kevin, he said "Thank you for your prayers.  I feel such support from all those who do so. It strengthens my faith."

I echo his message. Love in the stitches...

Quilt #30 Britni Duke donated by Mary Duke

Miss Britni

Quilt # 30 was presented to Britni Duke on January 30 2017. Mary, her mother writes: Britni has struggled with depression and anxiety over the last several years. She has been in and out of hospitals for at least the last 10 years trying to find a way out of her darkness and get a grasp on the right treatment and the right meds for her condition. As her mother I have struggled with Britin's disease for as long as she has. It is hard to see your child in such deep pain. There are times when I have just had to get away because I just can't take it anymore. But then I feel guilt because she can't seem to escape it. I started this quilt for Britni several years ago but just didn't make the time to finish it. When Stacey told me about the Duncan project, I thought it would be the perfect time to finish it and present it to her. I didn't want to give it to her when she was sleeping in bed day after day. So it was finished about 2 weeks before I gave it to her. The last few days she has been up and seems to be doing great, setting goals and working toward them again. There is hope! This is not the end of her journey I am sure, but I am seeing improvement in her. I hope she understands that this quilt is a symbol of my love and support.
(Thus the hearts in the middle of each square) I am not the perfect mom, but I do the best with what I know. And I know she understands that. On the tag of the quilt there is a thought that my friend Joan Schneiter gave to me that I really love. It says... "The strongest people are not those who show strength in front of us, but those who win battles we know nothing about." Britni, You can win this battle, and you will.

Mary and her sweet Britni

The color and detail of these blocks
is so beautiful

I echo my support for this gentle hearted woman. Britni, there is love in the stitches not only from your mom but many others who support you and are cheering you on.

Quilt #29 DES

DES created this collage. My favorite is the pic of her holding
hands with her new husband. 

Quilt #29 was presented to a loving, courageous woman. This post will only contain initials to protect her anonymity.

I first met this wonderful woman back in high school. We were friends but didn't spend a lot of time together. Years later through the magic of technology, we found each other again when we both would often comment on the same Facebook pages. We ended up reconnecting online in 2013.

During this time she shared with me some of her story. She had married and had two beautiful children. Her spouse was abusive to her and her children. She spent many years trapped in the violent cycle that is abuse. After 30 years she found the courage to leave. I had grown up with an abusive father and I knew how scary it was for my own mother to leave.

She has two beautiful children, a daughter who is now married and has blessed my friend with two precious grandchildren. A dancer most of her life, her daughter is now blessed to be a stay at home mom and has an amazing husband. She moved on and found happiness long before my friend found her own courage. My friend is also blessed with an amazing son who was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy when he was 8 1/2 years old (He is a world class wheelchair athlete and an inspiration to many in his own right.). So when she found the courage and help she needed to break out of the cycle of violence, her main concern was to ensure that you could find a safe place for her and her son to live, and though overwhelming, they did it together! So without the support of  those she had counted on including most of her church family, they were blessed by a few and finally broke away.  I am in awe at her strength.

Convinced she would never be able to love and trust again, a couple of years later, when she least expected it, she met and married the love of her life. It is his hand holding hers in the photo above.

Even though she has found love and happiness with an amazing man, the years of abuse have left her with PTSD, severe panic and anxiety disorder and depression.  She has difficulty sleeping and everyday tasks can become crippling due to the panic and anxiety they cause.

She, however, wants each of you to know, if you find yourself in a similar situation, or know someone who is being abused, or someone you suspect is being abused, more than likely you are right.  She told me "Stacey, please make sure they realize they need to speak up, they too can get away, they are stronger than they know. If I can do this after 30 years, Stacey, anyone can!"

I wanted her to feel hugged and embraced by this quilt. I recently read about how weighted blankets can help those who suffer with PTSD or anxiety. I backed her quilt with a heavy, soft fabric to provide comfort. She shared with me that she has settled down to relax with her quilt and often falls asleep.  A luxury for her right now.

When I shared with her a bit about The Duncan Project, she was very touched. She had her own story of providing healing during the passing of a baby that brought me to tears. She has such a generous, loving spirit.

She was willing to let me share some of her story in hopes that someone reading this will understand  Abuse does not define who we are! And to inspire anyone who may be living in an abusive situation to get help and to get out.

There is understanding and true compassion in these stitches.  Love and healing to my sweet friend.

Quilt #28 Mary Duke donated by Bookclub Members

Mary Duke received her quilt at our 21st annual Book Club Christmas Dinner. Mary front row, far left.
She is adored by all of us.

Mary and Marilyn

Quilt # 28 was presented to Mary Duke on December 15, 2016 by members of our book club.  To know Mary is to know love. Her life is a master class in friendship and service. 2016 has been particularly rich in trials and blessings for Mary. Her beautiful mother, Shirley Sawyer passed away in July. She continues to spend time with her best friend Marilyn Eyre who is on hospice as she struggles with a terminal disease. And this year Mary has endured multiple surgeries from a biking accident that shattered her jaw two years ago. Through it all Mary's positive attitude and love for others inspires us all bear our own burdens with hope.

This pattern is called The Friendship Star.
 The fabrics are
reproduction fabrics that Mary loves.

I could write many pages about Mary Duke but I think the best way to share her with those who read these posts is to share Mary's own words in a comment she posted on Facebook the day after she received her quilt:

Mary writes,

"Trying to put down in words the feelings in my heart is difficult because what I feel can't be expressed, but I will try.

This quilt is two sided.  They are both
so beautiful.

I received the most beautiful quilt last night. These quilts are given to people who have struggled over insurmountable challenges. I don't feel worthy of this beautiful quilt. And yet at the same time it represents so much to me. Love, comfort, strength, hope, testimony and Jesus Christ himself.
Stacey shared a quote last night. "God cares about my growth more than he cares about my comfort." How powerful is that. I have thought about that a lot in the last few hours. That is so true. When we are going through these trials that life throws our way we are being stretched and molded and it hurts so much. But as I thought more about this quote, he cares so much more about our comfort too. And that comfort comes through His gospel, the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is why we have the atonement.

Joan and Barbara pieced the two sided quilt. Toni did the masterful binding.
Marilyn contributed a lovely saying for the custom quilt tag.  

This quilt represents to me the beautiful gospel of Jesus Christ. He will not leave us comfortless. He has become my friend. Jesus Christ is my friend. He is so much better at being a friend to me than I am to him. But I am grateful to call him my friend. The greatest gift he has given me is of course, the atonement.  No gift can compare. But the next best gift he has given me is the gift of friends. He shows his love to me through so many friends.
In the trials that have come to me not just this year but throughout my life, it is He who has stood by me. He who has strengthened me, He who has loved me. And how has he done it? Through His gospel, and that gospel good news is the atonement  and friends.
The quote on the quilt tags says " A friend is someone who knows the song of your heart, and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words." Thank you my friends for singing to me. Again and again, you have filled me with hope, strength, love, testimony and comfort. I do not deserve you. I do not deserve the atonement. But I am so grateful for both.
My heart is full. I am so blessed by a Savior who loves me so much that he has given me the most beautiful friends in the world. Who joy in my joys, suffer in my sufferings, laugh at my silliness, and who show me over and over again who my Savior is through kind acts every day. I love you all so much!  Thank you! I sit here wrapped in such love, such strength, such hope, such goodness, such a beautiful quilt. Thank you! I love you all!
Your undeserving friend."

This is the woman that teaches us hope, joy and dignity. For her there is so much love in the stitches...

Quilt #25 Joni Griffin and Eleanor

Joni Collins

Quilt #25 was presented to Joni Griffin and her baby girl Eleanor. I learned about Joni and Eleanor from Sari Johnson, my new relative by marriage and friend by choice. Joni's baby was diagnosed with cancer when she was just weeks old.

In Joni's words:

Eleanor was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) on February 2 through an ER visit which initially diagnosed a "raging uti". Further blood analysis raised suspicions and a second analysis confirmed the heartbreaking news that our 11week old had ALL. She began treatment immediately; first surgery to place a central venous line (CVL) and then a month's worth of chemotherapy to begin to combat this viscious disease. In the meantime, life went on. My husband had just started another semester of engineering school while working full time at an engineering company and my parents took over caring for our 2 year old son. 

We finished our first month of chemo and we were released March 3 to turn around 2 weeks later and start round 2 of chemotherapy. That was finished in a month, but we had to stay 2 additional weeks for certains counts to come back up and we finally released Mother's Day weekend. 

Eleanor's leukemia didn't respond to the second round of chemo as they had hoped, still 60% in her bone marrow, so they went a non-traditional route and did antibody therapy. They created an immune response similar to allergic reaction with a specific medication: fever, nausea, vomiting, etc. That was the best thing for Eleanor because 15 days on that treatment and she was in full remission--May 24 will be a day forever burned into my mind. 

Because of her lack of response to chemo, Eleanor fast tracked her way to a bone marrow transplant. The preparations for it began during her second round of chemo. We began that process July 12: 10 days of high dose chemo with the last 3 including an immune system destroying drug. Her transplant was July 22 and July 23 was "Day 1 post-transplant". Almost made it through the 14-21 day window for engraftment (new marrow taking over) with no problems, but on day 19 she was diagnosed with veno-occlusive disease.

VOD can be fatal, luckily for us her's wasn't. Eleanor kept retaining fluid no matter the amount of lasix given and she was having multiple platelet transfusions a day. The fluid overload caused her to have breathing issues and got so bad that she went to the Pediactric ICU. She spent a total of 6 weeks in the PICU undergoing continual dialysis for fluid overload and also 2 intubations due to breathing issues. 

After that 6 weeks, it was relatively easy sailing. We spent a total of 3 months from beginning to end of transplant in the hospital; discharged on October 4. We had another small hiccup and were back in the hospital 9 days later with an infection in her central line. With removal of the line, things went quickly and we were discharged AGAIN (and finally) October 28. 

We have been home over a month and things are going well. She has clinic visits every 2 weeks and will extend to monthly shortly.
I felt a special reverance for life as I worked on this quilt. It reminds me that we are supported in our trials by angel above and on this earth. Thoughts and prayers go to the Griffin family as they continue this journey of healing for Eleanor and the whole family We hope they find comfort in this little quilt knowing they are loved by so many. Love in the stitches....

Sari Johnson and Joni Griffin. I love the photo of Christ
in the background.

Quilt #27 Maidy Worthen

Our cherished Maidy

Maidy's beautiful brain

Quilt #27 was presented to Maidy Worthen on December 6, 2016.  I serve with Maidy in the Stake Young Womens Presidency. Last night we were talking about the origin of our names and we talked about how there is no one quite like Maidy and that Maidy is "mighty."  To sum her up is to know love. You will never leave her presence without feeling more joyful.

A couple of months ago Maidy started having problems hearing on her left side.  After a few appointsments, it was discovered that she has a benign tumor outside her brain sitting on her auditory nerve. At the this point she has three options; 1. Do nothing, 2. Gamma Ray treatments to shrink the tumor or 3. Surgery to remove it, risking facial nerve damage.

From the moment of her diagnoses, she demonstrated such great faith, telling us she knew she would be okay. Today she leaves for California to have a specialist at UCLA give her a second opinion.She let me know the quilt would go with her as well. Our thoughts, love and prayers go with her.

Love in the stitches...

As soon as I gave her the quilt, it went right into action.

Loha Benson, Sondra Jung and Maidy, the
members of our presidency.