June 29, 2016 - The Saga of a Stump Sock

This month has seen the arrival of some precious gifts...

First, the socks!  MOB III is now nearly complete.   My hope was for nine socks, and seven are now finished, thanks in large part to my knitting friends from Ravelry and SAQA.

Here they are so far...with particular thanks to Anne, whose sock arrived some time back and wasn't acknowledged...and with thanks to Bev, whose sock was sent twice before it found its way here!  Oh...and the three in the back row?  These are the ones I've finished so far.  With another being knit by a friend from Calgary, I need to knit only one more to complete the set.  :-)

Collected stump socks - June 29-2016

Here's the story of Bev's sock, which boggled my mind!

• Sent to me the first time...landed at Customs on May 5...and was sent back to her as "undeliverable" -- even though the address was correct.  Sigh.
• Sent again June 2:
• Departed Post Office in Colorado - June 2 at 6:26 p.m.;
• Passed through "USPS Origin Facility" - June 2 at 10:45-10:47 p.m.;
• Passed through "USPS Facility" in Los Angeles - June 4 at 10:14-10:35 a.m.;
• Processed at "ISC" in Los Angeles - June 5 at 10:43 a.m.;
• Arrived Los Angeles (location?) - June 6 at 1:06 p.m.;
• Departed Vancouver, B.C. - June 7 at 8:11 a.m.;
• "Processed Through Facility" in Canada (probably Vancouver) - June 7 - 10:43 a.m.
• "Customs Clearance" in Canada (Vancouver?) - June 7 - 10:43 a.m.;
• "Customs Clearance processing complete" - June 7 - 11:10 a.m.;
• Arrived Mirror, Alberta Post Office - June 10 - 12:03 p.m.

Seriously?  Colorado is just about straight south of Alberta...well, southeast but not "east" by much... so it's anyone's guess why the sock had to travel here via the west coast of the continent (LA and Vancouver, B.C.).  Bev and I are both relieved it finally arrived!

Another gift surprised me on Tuesday this week: I was given a box of unused, still wrapped insulin syringes.   I had been longing to add syringes to MOB I...but had no idea how to acquire any, as I am not in need of them myself and had returned all my husband's to the pharmacy when he died. (Unused and still sterile, they were donated to those in need.)  And out of the blue -- !  So now to plan exactly how to use them tastefully...I believe they will add impact to the statement of this piece.

As for the "main event" -- MOB I -- here's how it looked after stitching yesterday:

Next month's report will be the last before the finale of MOB I (August 9)...stay tuned -- and thanks for your continued support!

May 29, 2016 - It's All Coming Together

April and May have been busy, exciting months for yours truly!  In mid-April I shared a booth with my photographer daughter, Gina, at the Lacombe Art Show and Sale -- and sold my first large landscape.

Having been part of this Show for a few years now, I've had the opportunity to get to know Maureen MacKenzie from the City of Lacombe, who is on the City's Art Committee and responsible for coordinating that annual event.

Remember that meeting I mentioned in my last post?  Well...when Maureen and two other members of the Art Committee met with me for lunch...and they agreed to host the debut of the Mark on the Body Project as an installation in the upstairs gallery at the Lacombe Memorial Centre!

The exhibit will go up October 20 and run till November 17, 2016.  It will be visible from the foyer...just enough to entice a short trip up the stairs (or on the elevator) to see it "up close and personal".  There will be an official Opening Reception on Wednesday, October 26 (time to be determined)...complete with media etc.!!

Needless to say, I'm over the moon!  I've connected with the Fundraising and Development Coordinators from both the JDRF and the CDA for this area (Central Alberta/Red Deer and District).  Both are excited to see the installation and will be invited to the opening, as will Gracie and Deb, managers of the two galleries in which I show my miniatures.

And I'm now working hard with my SAQA Mentor, Bonnie Jo Smith, to prepare my Artist's talk and a book to accompany the piece -- and I'm knitting away on my third stump sock as well as doing my daily stitching on the main piece.

May 29, 2016 - Left Hand

May 29, 2016 - Abdomen & Thighs

While I work away, my band of loving volunteers are working too.  You saw Lia's sock last month...This month one arrived from Sharon:

In addition, MOB II squares are once more coming in...

Newly-minted squares from Monika and Jo V.

And more have been sent out to volunteer stitchers I met while in Stratford. ON on the Victoria Day holiday weekend...and at Olds. AB, while at a stitching workshop with Monika at the College.

I have on hand another dozen MOB II 'kits' for anyone who would like them; there will be even more available at the installation for folks to work on during the opening or to take home, stitch and send in to be included.  These will be hung as a mobile (or two) so that people can walk around and see them from front and back.  (If you are interested, please contact me at margblank@xplornet.ca.)

I continue to hope that this work will dispel the myths that surround both types of diabetes, and will play a part in increasing financial support for the important research going on here in Alberta -- and around the world -- to better treat, to prevent and ultimately to find a cure for T1D.

Thank you again, Gentle Readers, for your encouragement, your prayers and your support.  By the end of next month, stitching on MOB I will be in the home stretch.  See you then!

In Betwixt and Between

The first sock for MOB III is finished so I thought I'd share a photo:

And the second, begun:

This one's going more quickly -- in part because the yarn is more interesting!  :-)

Thanks again to the volunteer knitters helping me with this.  You are all a blessing to me.  More at month-end.

All Over the Place

With only a little over 4 months' stitching to do, I've started moving my stitching around a bit -- especially the "injection" stitches -- because I seem to be running out of suitable "sites".  

The hands are filling up, for sure.

Trying not to let one hand get filled more than the other,

I tend to move back and forth between them every

other needle-full of thread.

Right now, I'm stitching on the right hand.

Then there's the "pre-diagnosis" stitching

in the "air" around the body.

I have a needle threaded on each side

and alternate sides from day to day.

This is looking over the right shoulder.

It's really hard to photograph this!

As for the abdomen...there, I'm stitching all over the place.

The stitching seems to emulate the course of T1D, which makes its Mark on the Body in different ways, at different times, and with different effects -- permanent or not -- on different people.

Thanks again to those of you reading this page on a regular basis -- and welcome to those of you who are new visitors.

Thanks especially to the three volunteer knitters who are helping me with MOB III.  My own first contribution to that project is nearing the finish line -- there'll be a photo next month.

Blessings, all; I very much appreciate you!

Feb. 29 - 2016: MOB III Has Begun

DH on our 30th Anniversary Cruise
July 2005

My husband lost his legs one at a time, approximately a year apart, in November, as was his wont.  By that I mean that during the Lost Decade (the last 10 years of his life), his medical crises tended to occur in his birth month, November.  We never could figure out why.

The left leg went first.  It began with an injury to his left foot in the winter of 1997, a winter full of ice: streets thus sprinkled with salt and tiny bits of gravel, one of which we think must have wandered into his left boot and cut the flesh just beneath the toes.

Although he massaged his feet with cream nightly, he didn't examine them closely -- or perhaps couldn't see well enough the discolouration over time.  I didn't participate in this because he was very independent about his own care...I had to be careful about offering help lest it be construed as "interference".  One night at bed-time he asked me to check his left foot -- because he was actually feeling pain (loss of feeling in the feet is common, due to neuropathy).  Sure enough, there was a patch on the ball of his foot about 1 1/2" across, discoloured and pulpy like the skin of a mouldy orange.

That foot healed after two years of diligent treatment by the best "foot doctor" in the province (in Calgary); 'healing' included the loss of his pinky toe and a small bone on the side of the foot.  Alas, it was not to last, and the T1D got the better of the foot...and the leg was amputated below the knee in November 2001.

Some months later, coming out of the hospital after his dialysis treatment, Howard stepped down hard off the curb and heard a "pop".  Again, we don't exactly know what it was...but something burst inside the heel of his right leg.  Over time there was discolouration and then deterioration.  During those months, he was in horrendous pain -- to the point where I had the Palliative Care Pain Management team brought in on a consultation to manage it.

While he stubbornly fought the loss of his second leg, toxins spread into his body and damaged the discs in  his lower spine.  The crisis came (again) in November 2002...and the leg was amputated below the knee on November 23.  He had two cardiac arrests near the end of the surgery, and almost didn't survive to see his fiftieth birthday (November 29).

A few years afterward, the idea came to me to make stump socks for the times when Howard wasn't wearing his artificial legs -- rather like slippers that are comfy to wear around the house, saving one's 'best' shoes (legs) for going out.  I designed my own pattern, and made him two pair from a lovely soft cotton/elastic blend called "Esprit" from  the Elann Collection at elann.com.  Howard loved them, and enjoyed them a lot.  He even wore them out on occasion (to his dialysis treatments) and got envious comments.

After he died, I gave his legs back to Alberta Artificial Limb -- they could recycle the parts.  When I asked if they could find a home for Howard's stump socks, the company rep's eyes lit up.  Could they?!  You betcha!

Sometime later, in my grief, I got rid of my hand-made pattern...or at least I think I did.  All I know is that I cannot find it now.

And I wanted one now, because for the third part of this installation that is going to be the Mark on the Body Project (i.e., MOB III), I want to create nine (9) stump socks...hanging like a nine-patch.  (I mentioned this in passing in an earlier post HERE.)

Lacking my own pattern, I turned to Ravelry and found one.  The pattern's title went the "politically correct" route: "Residual Limb Covers".  Sigh.  Such feeble attempts we make to shield ourselves from the reality of loss...

So...I found an alternative pattern on Google, one bearing a title that told it like it is: "Knitted Stump Sock".

I cast on last evening, finished the cuff this morning and have started down the leg.  Each sock will be made from this yarn, likely as a mixture of pairs and singles -- again, to try to reflect reality.

Stump Sock #1 - Cuff 

Now, I'm well prepared to make all nine of these on my own, but if any of you Gentle Readers can knit and want to join me, I'll be happy to send you some yarn and the link to the pattern.  Just e-mail me...margblank@xplornet.ca.  

Meanwhile, there's been the usual daily progress on MOB I...and I await a few returns from MOB II.  Again, volunteers for the latter are appreciated...the deadline for both MOB II and III is June 30...

Till next month...thank you for your support!

Feb. 29-2016: Abdomen "injection" sites

Feb. 29-2016: "Pre-diagnosis" blue
above an upper arm

Feb. 29-2016 - Hand - "testing blood sugar"

January 29-2016: I'm Late! I'm Late!

With apologies to Disney and Lewis Carroll...

January got away on me -- but the stitching got done, daily -- or almost daily.  Just the posting went AWOL for a couple of days.  At last, photos from January 29, marking another month's passing, and moving me ever closer to the end of this project.

Mark on the Body - Full length

Just over 6 months' stitching remain.

Mid-body close-up, with hands

In that time, I'll be pondering the background, the edge-finishing...and getting advice on how to mount the lot.

Shoulder detail 

Yet to be cast on: the first stump sock -- MOB III.  That will come this month; I promise.

Meanwhile, I've had a couple more MOB II squares returned.  Thank you, stitching friends, for supporting this work.

Adieu...till "Leap Day".  :-)

December 29-2015: Still Searching

For a cure.  

That said, on the T1D treatment front, the news is encouraging.  Clinical trials are beginning in Edmonton on the use of stem cells implanted in the patient to create Islet cells (insulin-producing cells).

It's not a cure -- assuming no complications, the packet of stem cells has to be replaced every 24 months -- but it certainly reduces the Mark on the Body.

Dec. 29-2015 - hand detail

Dec. 29-2015 - shoulder detail
Blue stitches = days before HMB's diagnosis, aged 7

Dec. 29-2015 - thigh detail

For more participants in MOB II: Making My Mark.

Between now and June 30, 2016 I'd like to collect  100 small quilt sandwiches, stitched by those whose lives have been impacted by Type 1 Diabetes.  To date, I've sent out 20 kits, and received in return 14 completed squares.

Early returns to MOB II: Making My Mark

If you are interested in participating -- I supply the squares, the embroidery floss, labels and instructions; you stitch up a square and mail it back to me (your only cost is time and postage) -- contact me by e-mail: margblank AT xplornet DOT ca.  Make your mark to honour a loved one or to identify yourself as someone living with the dailiness of T1D...and the need not only for better treatment, but for prevention and a cure!

In January I will begin MOB III: Sock It to T1D!

For help with a few stump socks.  I mentioned this in last month's post (scroll down)...for the knitters among you.  Again, I would supply a pattern and yarn....you supply time and return postage.  I need only 9 of these, and start my first one in January...stay tuned to this page for photos...

Meanwhile, thank you again for reading, for supporting this blog and this effort to express the impact of Type 1 Diabetes.

Blessings to you and yours for a healthy, happy and creative New Year!

November 29-2015: Two Years On

When I started this project two years ago, I wasn't certain I could carry it on for the intended duration (through Aug. 9, 2016 for the stitching, then to the end of 2016 for finishing and starting to try for exhibit opportunities).

But...with the support and encouragement of family and friends -- especially those in my SAQA cyber-support system -- I'm still here, still stitching.

Nov. 29-2015 - Right hand

Nov. 29-2015 - Left hand

Nov. 29-2015 - Left upper arm

Nov. 29-2015 - Abdomen, hips

Not only that, but I've been able to give voice to a participatory second section of this project: Mark On the Body II (or MOB II): Making My Mark...and have received, to date, a dozen completed contributions...with another dozen or so out there to be finished.

Some of the MOB II: Making My Mark contributions

I have a third portion of the project in mind -- for the knitters among you, Gentle Readers.  

When my DH was alive, I knit him 2 pair of stump socks.  Yes: stump socks.  He'd lost both legs below the knee, and when not wearing his artificial limbs, had a need for soft, comfortable socks to wear over his stumps.  I didn't know then (2006, just a few months before he died) that there were patterns out there for them, so I made my own, based on his legs. I used a cotton blend yarn that had a bit of stretch to it, and softened beautifully when washed.  I still have some of that yarn.

But I'm not suggesting that participants in MOB III make stumps socks for living people.  I no longer have the pattern I made -- I think I threw it out after giving away the socks when DH died -- but I've found a couple free online that would work.

My hope for MOB III would be this: to knit up (with or without help) a series of socks -- perhaps 9 or 12 -- stuff them appropriately so that their purpose would be obvious, and hang them in rows as part of this entire installation.  Aside from "MOB III" an appropriate working title has yet to occur to me, but it will come in time.

If any of you are interested in making a contribution to either MOB II or MOB III, I would gladly appreciate it!  For MOB II, I have materials and instructions I'd send you.  For MOB III, I would do the same, as far as I have yarn.  Your only cost would be a little time and the return postage.  If you're game, send me a private e-mail.

In just over 8 months, this entire project will be closed, and the finishing/assembly process will begin.

Who'd-a-thunk it?

Thanks again to any and all of you for your kindness, and your support!

And thanks to the dear man who was and remains my inspiration for this work...

Howard Martin Blank
November 29, 1952 - August 9, 2006