Updates

It's not like there's been a lack of knitting. In mid-summer, I started Christmas gifts. By December, I was Christmas gift-ed out, and had to take a break, despite not being finished. But, there definitely quite a few projects being cranked off my needles.

There is also a medical update, of course. And perhaps a little bit of an explanation to where I've been, mentally. I was rejected by my first transplant hospital of choice, because they decided I definitely need a double lung/liver transplant. This has never been done in Massachusetts, and unfortunately, that hospital did not have the resources to be the first, as they didn't already have a liver transplant team in place. My second choice, the local Children's hospital, had to say no as well, because they are only in the process now of accepting Medicare. I'm on my last chance hospital, and will see them the day after Easter. If everyone says no, I will need to look at either Pittsburgh, or Duke. Which means moving.

The idea that that may be what I have to do has loomed on my mind pretty heavily. I try to keep it towards the back burner, as there's no use in panicking until it actually happens. But trying to afford a temporary move is no small feat, and not something I wanted to put my family through. I'm a quiet girl, so the idea of having to fund raise scared me, as well.

On Halloween of this year, a good friend of mine died in a horrible car crash. His name was Mike. Mike received a double lung transplant five months before the accident. There is no way to express the feeling of grief. Mike was one of the strongest men I've ever met, and I miss him greatly. His family, being just as wonderful as Mike was, donated the money he had fund raised for his own transplant to me and three other cystics who are facing transplant. Because I'm the only one expected to possibly have to relocate, they gave the majority of it to me. It's a miracle, but one that feels heavy to me. I love his family, for doing this for me, but it feels like at what cost? I'm going to make sure when I get my transplant, I'm going to make them proud of me.

All right, enough of that! Projects:

This is from the Woven Cables scarf I made for my sister. Made from Knitpicks Bare Superwash Merino, it's available as a free Ravelry download.

This is a hat I made for my best friend, Dee. I used two strands of Knitpicks Merino Style held together, this pattern, and the button was bought at a local knitting store, the Franklin Mill Store.

I made two Utopia hats- both were meant for my home IV nurse, but one was too small, and was given as a Yankee Swap gift instead, and the other did indeed go to Nurse Linda :)

And I made an Odessa for my friend Steph:

And a lone hat for me that made me look like an idiot, so also was given away in that Yankee Swap. I'll probably remake it, in the same yarn, but less slouchy. My head can't handle the slouchy.

And last, I just finished a Bib O' Love from Mason Dixon Knitting. It's in a Neopolitan color scheme, so I'm going to find an ice cream button for it.

Since I didn't finish all my Christmas gifts from this past Christmas, I continue to work on them. I want to finish all of them. So right now, I'm working on Endpaper Mitts for my friend, Katie.

The Italian Tubular cast-on nearly kicked my butt, but I managed it, and now really like it.

So, that's all that's going on here!

Comments

[Astrid]

I know this is easy for me to say, but Mike didn't die so that you could have the money or meds. It's always tragic when people die, devastating, and painful, but this is what he would have wanted and since things happened they way they did it makes sense to follow his wishes. It's exactly the same as with transplants, people don't die so that we can live, people just die, and sometimes something good can come out of the bad. I think it's okay for it to feel heavy though, it's okay to feel sad and upset when a friend has died... I feel for you, and I hope that you can turn this into something positive, something you can draw strength from (if you haven't already reached that point). I'm thinking about you.

[maryse]

i'm sure that you'll make mike and his family proud. and the best way for you to do that is to get healthy.

let me know how i can help.

[Dawn]

They are already proud of you, sweetie. Trust me.

[Michelle]

I know you will make them proud. You're in my thoughts.

[Laura Bullins]

If you end up at Duke let me know -- in a few months I'll be moving to Chapel Hill which is only about an hour away from Duke. We will have to get together to knit and wedding plan (my wedding planning will be OVER by then, thankfully, so we can focus on yours!)