3.01.2016

The Battle Against Breast Cancer - Fighting For My Mom

In January, actually while I was in California teaching at Road to California, right in the middle of one of my classes I got the text message that one one ever wants to receive, from anyone....."I have cancer". Luckily it was lunch time when I read this text and I was able to gather my thoughts and pull it together enough to finish teaching all of my classes that week. 

My mom, as many of you probably know her, the co-author of Modern One-Block Quilts and also, Cabin Fever: 20 Modern Log Cabin Quilts had found a lump on her breast, immediately had a mammogram, and other testing and was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. 

Since that day I've been wracking my brain, how can I help? What can I do to help my family? Because I live about 300 miles away, and still have a little family to take care of and provide for, I knew that I couldn't drop everything to be there throughout the duration of her fight. I'm not wealthy, and don't come from great fortunes, however, I do think I'm creative and I think I've finally come up with a plan, hoping that I might be able to help just a little bit.

Last year a I created a few tutorial series' with free quilt block tutorials. I've had a great response to those tutorials and have had several asking for me to create the tutorials with patterns for larger, one block quilt size blocks. Last week it finally hit me! That's exactly what I can do for my mom! I can re-write my tutorials in the giant size and sell them, with 100% of the proceeds from the pattern sales being donated to my mom to help ease the financial burden that is being placed on her. 

Today I've got the first pattern available, the Morning Star, I'm hoping to get several of these written into the 72" quilt size over the next few months. 
If there are any of the patterns that you'd like to see in the 72" size, please, leave a comment and let me know.

The PDF pattern is available for purchase here for just $5.00 and I will be donating 100% of the proceeds to my mom, Kathleen Whiting to help her with this fight against Breast Cancer. 
I have sketched the pattern in two different color-ways the first using A Bright Sun by A Quilting Life and the second using Prairie by Cory Yoder.

31 comments:

  1. I'm a 13 year survivor, prayers for you and your mom. This is a wonderful idea. Much success to you and your mom with her battle. I shared my survival years because the day things turned me (my attitude and hope) was when a stranger approached me and quietly said honey my a 24 year survivor. That person gave me hope.

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  2. Sending healing thoughts out for your mom~this is a nice way to share your talents and help her too :) Good daughter :)

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  3. Warm thoughts and get well wishes to your Mom Natalia, it's never easy! And good luck with your pattern sales!

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  4. Recently my brother ask for one of my quilts to raffle off to help a family with medical bills. This raffle was going to take place at an Elks Club. Instead of a raffle they set up a punch game.(http://www.webstaurantstore.com/2575/punch-board-games-of-chance.html) The board had 100 punches which they sold for $10.00 each.After all of the chances were sold they drew the lucky number. Winner got a queen size quilt & family got $1000. Just an idea.

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  5. Great idea Natalia. I am a 3.5 yr survivor and I know your Mom has the strength too to fight through this. And I will keep her in my prayers and buy patterns too!

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  6. What an amazingly thoughtful daughter you are! I just picked your mom's books up from the library last week. So sorry to hear she has the dreaded cancer diagnosis. Prayers and hugs for both of you.

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  7. Great idea Natalia! I 'll be watching for one I want!. Hugs & prayers for your Momma!

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  8. Great idea Natalia! I 'll be watching for one I want!. Hugs & prayers for your Momma!

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  9. I'm a 2-time survivor - 23 years and 12 years. I'm sharing because as Lorraine said, maybe it will bring hope to your mom. Sending healing thoughts for your mom and best of luck with your new enterprise.

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  10. PRAYING for your Mom a successful+speedy recover♥ My sister+I did very well over-coming this ugly disease and your Mom will too ♥
    msstitcher1214@gmail.com

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  11. Please read www.thetruthaboutcancer.com. It will change your lives.

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  12. What a wonderful idea to raise funds to help your Mom. I just bought the pattern. Prayers for her and for you during this time and I hope all goes well with her treatment.

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  13. I'm sorry to hear about your mom, Natalia! Prayers for her and the rest of the family.

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  14. I am sorry to hear about your mom, prayers coming her way.

    Debbie

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  15. I know Kathleen, she is a fighter and my gut instinct tells me she is going to be fine. She can call and talk to me, she knows I had breast cancer twice about 15 years ago. Hang in there all of you. Love you!!

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  16. I am sorry to hear about your mom. I went through this with my mom. It was a hard path but it really brought us closer together. Prayers for your mom, you and all involved. I purchased the pattern and will continue to purchase more to help support your mom's care.

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  17. I purchased the pattern.
    Sending healing energy for your mother!

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  18. I am so sorry to hear this about your mom. I will keep her and your family in my prayers. If you would give me your mother's address I will send her a card of encouragement. What a wonderful way to help support your mother. I will be purchasing some patterns.

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  19. How is your mum doing? I received my breast cancer diagnosis on 12 February this year and had surgery 29 February - now home recovering and waiting to hear if it has spread. I am 100% positive it has not and are only preparing myself for radiotherapy once the wound has healed

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  20. Hugs and prayers for your mom.

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  21. So sorry to hear about your mom. I know this is a trying time. I just ordered the pattern and am anxious to buy the next ones. Keep us posted on her recovery.

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  22. So sorry, your Mom and family in my prayers. Love your patterns so this is a win win for me. Just placed my order.
    patsystitch@gvtc.com

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  23. Sending positive thoughts and prayers to you and your mom. What a lovely idea to create a special series of patterns, to help raise funds for her. I definitely will purchase/donate. Looks like you are not setup for PayPal, so I need to pull my credit card out to order, but I will do so today.

    I also want to take this opportunity to heighten awareness that Susan G. Komen For the Cure will provide financial and medical support to any personal that needs such help. Sadly, there are many that do not have medical coverage yet do not know that they simply need to call their "nearest" Komen office. They don't even have to have a Komen office close to them, as it can be a state office. I've known them to connect people with doctors for treatment, where they shared with me they were treated professional, all 100% covered by Komen. I need to look it up, but there is also a non-profit that will clean homes for woman dealing with breast cancer (http://www.cleaningforareason.org/). So do reach out and get support, as that is what these non-profits are there for.

    Big virtual hug,

    QuiltShopGal
    www.quiltshopgal.com

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  24. What a wonderful way to help your mom. I know how hard it is to be far away from your loved ones when something like this happens. I went through the same thing with my mom. That was 27 years ago, & she's still going strong. Sending positive thoughts and prayers to you and your mom.

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  25. Sending lots of love, Natalia. I will keep your mom, you and your entire family in my thoughts and prayers. xo.

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  26. It is always hard to hear about a woman dealing with breast cancer. It is a wonderful thing you are doing.

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  27. As the daughter of a mom who had cancer I can relate to your experience of finding out. Please know there are people praying for and supporting both of you and your family. Family is at the core of the support system for the patient. I spent many hours, days, and weeks with my mom undergoing treatment. The financial burden is very real. Ask for help and reach out to the cancer center, as they have a lot of assistance that your mom may be unaware exists. For example, my mom got free gas to travel to her chemo treatments. Thinking of you in this difficult time and I look forward to purchasing your big block patterns.

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  28. Your mom is in my thoughts, Natalia! You, too! I'm a 30+ years cancer survivor, so everything is possible! Great idea to sell your patterns. XO

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  29. Sending prayers for Kathleen. I will also blog and post about this to help out. Prayers for you too Natalia, I know how hard it is to have a mama that is not well.

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  30. I'm sorry about your moms diagnosis. It is great that you found a way to help as best as you can from far away. I'll keep her in my thoughts for a speedy recovery.

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