Knitting again!
Monday February 02nd 2009, 8:44 pm
Filed under: Crohn's flare

I had some yarn that I knew right where it was at home and I knew what size needle would go with it, and I asked Mom and Richard to bring them to see if I could at least try to knit again. Richard’s so funny; he didn’t know/remember about the circular needle sizer, so he simply scooped up my entire collection of circs in the pottery canister and brought them, figuring I’d know what’s what.

Paca de Seda baby alpaca/silk 91 yards/50 g (Purlescence has it); it’s pretty bulky for my usual.  But I wouldn’t have to wind any balls and it amazed me that I could do it, I actually have the strength now to hold that up and knit it. What a difference.  Yay!

The funny part, though, is that I have an oxygen meter glued to my left index finger, so I’ve had to type skipping that finger and knit keeping it and its wire out of the way; it makes for very slow going. But a second ball of yarn’s worth and I’ll have a simple lace scarf ready to give.

One of Dr. R’s GI colleagues came by today whom I hadn’t met before, and as he examined me he asked me what I do.  I told him I’m an author and a knitter, and he asked if I could show him my book. (Ya think?!) Then I told him to please read the very last paragraph on the very last page, that it referenced the previous huge Crohn’s flare I’d had–and that I’d gotten Dr. R’s permission to put his name in there.

The younger doctor was very pleased. It was a strong reminder as to why he went into medicine in the first place and I knew it.  Doctors need to be told every now and then how much the patients are glad that they do what they do.

My surgeon’s also a Dr. R.  I like that.

Tomorrow I get to eat pureed food; one step closer to going home.  it did hurt to drink today, but not much and so worth it. Forward march!

I have the perfect shade of green baby alpaca at home waiting to be knit up into a shawl for a particular nurse, where a scarf just won’t do. She needs a shawl from me.  She loved my book and she needs a permanent reminder from me that she can write her own book that she wants to about nursing cancer patients, even if it’ll take her a lot of time to do.  (She exclaimed over the amount of time I said it took me to knit a shawl, whereas I didn’t think it was much at all.)  She is the very kindest nurse you could ever ask for and I told her I very much wanted to read what she has to say.

A permanent wrap of encouragement, especially from someone who got her first book so far actually published, to say it can be done, I have faith in her–yeah.  Size 9s, here I come.  Soon.

To explain a moment, before my surgery I was in the oncology ward simply because that’s where there had been a bed available; I had been on a waiting list to get in at all at the time, Stanford being closed to new admissions. They were swamped.

Anyway.  You can see why that nurse needs me to knit that.  It will happen.


70 Comments so far
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Just sitting here, smiling, happy after reading your post. Lots of love from the gang.

Comment by Gigi 02.03.09 @ 8:55 am

Hooray! The road to recover is paved with knitting and food progress.

Comment by Channon 02.03.09 @ 8:55 am

Oh, Alison! Knitting again. I remember being too sick to knit once (not as long as you) and it’s such a victory to get the strength back to do it.

Speechless beyond that…

I love you.
Lynn

Comment by LynnH 02.03.09 @ 10:26 am

I will save reading the previous comments for later — it’s snowing and I need to go buy groceries QUICK — so no doubt I’m echoing what others may have said before me.

YOU’RE KNITTING AGAIN!!!!!!!!! Alison, you amaze me anew every day, I think. I am truly thrilled beyond belief that you are doing so well so soon. Anyone who doesn’t believe miracles happen in the modern age should come here and have a good, long read.

I’ll say yet again, may God continue to bless you, but it’s pretty obvious God does bless you incredibly well, and everyone who comes in contact with you. Speaking of which, that nurse in going to love her shawl, and I bet it will encourage her, just the way you’re hoping.

Again, let me know the very minute Scharffenberger is on the list of edibles!

(((((hugs)))))

Comment by Paula 02.03.09 @ 10:56 am

Congratulations on your recovery and knitting! What a difference from a week ago!

Comment by Leslie M 02.03.09 @ 11:17 am

I’m still pulling for you. You must be doing wonderfully if you’re knitting.

Comment by LisaK 02.03.09 @ 11:27 am

Eating… drinking…knitting, and making plans for the next ‘drive-by’— yeah, the old Alison is back! I don’t think we need to worry about you any longer! Still praying, tho, that you get stronger every day.
~Bonnie

Comment by Bonnie 02.03.09 @ 11:49 am

Hooray for you! Eating,drinking and knitting. I knew you would be knitting this week. I am so happy for you and your family. We’ll keep praying though, we need to get you home! So many people think they are tough and have determination, I feel they need to speak to you and see what tough really is.

Comment by Vicki 02.03.09 @ 1:32 pm

I’m so happy you’re knitting again. That’s tonic, I’m sure.

Comment by amy 02.03.09 @ 1:41 pm

Such a great treat for the soul – to begin knitting and release all of the emotions you have felt for the past many weeks! And your thoughts are of sharing with others – such an “Alison” thing to do! Way to go girl – and when they come by taking cocktail orders and yours is a double chocolate – we will all whoop for joy!!

Your cheerleader from TN – Rena

Comment by Rena 02.03.09 @ 1:44 pm

Ah, you’re on the mend at last…knit on!

Comment by Jocelyn 02.03.09 @ 2:10 pm

I don’t mean in any way to diminish what you’ve been through. It’s just that I’ve been watching your buddy Mr. Scruff and thinking of you. Having been in a kennel for 10 days, he’s now back to the varied diet he prefers. A bit of dried salmon. A bit of chicken. Liver? Oh yes, please. When he investigated a lemon-mint throat lozenge, however, I suggested that maybe that isn’t his sort of thing. He readily agreed.

I do hope the pureed food tastes as good to you as the liver does to him.

Comment by RobinM 02.03.09 @ 2:27 pm

Oh, Alison, SO wonderful to hear that things are on the mend! You knew we would all feel better about things when we heard you were knitting! 🙂 Been thinking about and praying for you. Just don’t get too carried away – remember to let everyone continue to take care of YOU!

Comment by Karin 02.03.09 @ 3:13 pm

Oh Alyison, all’s right with the world. You are back to knitting, and so soon too. Keep up the good progress . Bonnie

Comment by Bonnie 02.03.09 @ 3:35 pm

Alison, you must have had a great chuckle (stitches hurt?) when Richard brought in your full canister of circs. I’ve seen it and it’s really a tangle of ‘weird’ things to non-knitters. And, it passed the security test, too!

Good luck with eating — will they give you pureed chocolate or jello? Hope it has great flavor. Sleep well and the prayers continue for your speedy and easy recovery.
Love, Nancy W.

Comment by Nancy 02.03.09 @ 5:04 pm

Alison, you are in my prayers, girl. Heard about your illness on the Knitmore girls and thought, “isn’t that Alison the Wrapped in Comfort genius?” So glad that you’re knitting again. Yarn has healing qualities…I’m convinced of it!

Comment by Renée 02.03.09 @ 5:29 pm

That’s great that you’re knitting again. That’s our Alison back again. I’m praying that your recovery moves as swiftly as possible and that you’re knitting at home soon.

Love,

Greta

Comment by Greta 02.03.09 @ 5:37 pm

you are an inspiration to me not just for knitting but also for your outlook on life and being able to see the goodness in people. Keeping you in my thoughts for a swift recovery.

Comment by jackie 02.03.09 @ 6:00 pm

Hurray! I’m so glad that you’re healing… and that going home is really in sight.
And glad as well that you’re able to knit again. (I’m picturing my husband bringing in all the needles should I ever be hospitalized… and laughing; thanks for sharing that).

Comment by Helen 02.04.09 @ 8:50 am

My God you are determined! I was such a mess after a gall bladder removal that I couldn’t knit for a week. You are one strong woman. I keep thinking of you daily.

Comment by Sue 02.04.09 @ 5:19 pm



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