In Remembrance!

First I'd like to say Happy Holidays to each and everyone of you. Our volunteers are the most wonderful bunch of people anywhere and I want to THANK each of you for taking the time to make a blanket for a child in need.
One of the things that always gets my attention are the stories that my volunteers tell me as to why they are making blankets for Project Linus. Many of you make them because you know there is a need and you feel compassion for these children and you give of yourself so they will feel comfort. Some of you have had your children receive one of our blankets and wish to give back. We had one lady who came to me and said she only wanted make premie blankets in remembrance of her baby granddaughter who was premature and didn't make it, she wanted other premies to have the comfort of one of our blankets. Each of us has a reason.

I don't talk much about my reason. Today I'd like to share with you how it was that I came to be a Project Linus coordinator. Tomorrow in our family we will all quietly remember what happened 13 years ago. On Dec 18, 1997 my sweet little, almost 7 year old, niece died from brain cancer. Kendahl Dawn Runion got sick in Sept of 1997 and I remember making her hats to cover her little head. We never thought that in just a couple of short months we would lose her. I also remember being at Children's Mercy Hospital and seeing all the children in the cancer ward( yes they have one of those) These children had blankets and other security items. That was a seed of thought in my mind. I can assure you that this was a process for me. I quilt and I sew and I wanted to do something for kids and I thought well I can make blankets but I want to do it in a way that is bigger than just me making some blankets to donate I wanted to get all my friends involved too. I can also tell you that my family and friends would just look at me and say ok Patty and you could tell they thought I was crazy. These thoughts would come and go over the next couple of years. One morning I turned the TV on and was watching Alex Anderson's quilting show and she began to talk about Project Linus, a new organization that was making blankets for ill and traumatized children. Well that was it,this is what I'm supposed to do no more just thinking about it. I went to the phone and called Betsy in Colorado and said I want to join you what can I do. I was told to contact Dawn the coordinator here and if she agreed I could co-coordinate with her and work the Missouri side of Kansas City. Then just a short time later Dawn resigned and I took over.
I look back now and I think how far we have come in the past 10 years since I've been a part of Project Linus and how many lives we have been able to touch, both volunteers and the children who receive our blankets. I also know I'm the lucky one in all this, you see, it has changed me! I have made lasting friendships and experienced joy and love in ways I didn't know was possible. I've seen things done that we at Project Linus describe as our Project Linus angels doing, things that don't just happen under normal circumstances.
Thank you for letting me do this wonderful job and helping me to reach out to the children of Kansas City! We miss you Kendahl!