#42 IDAHO

I am honored to be the Idaho knitter on this shawl. I was so excited when I learned it was on its way to me. I am knitting this shawl in honor of my dear friend Becky who showed me how a real woman handles such adversity. She always had a positive attitude; she smiled constantly; she went to work every day while taking care of her children and her household; she had complete faith that she would be healed. After her chemo, radiation, and mastectomy, she said that having breast cancer had brought her so many blessings thqat she would not otherwise have had.

I am knitting in the hope that daughters and granddaughters will never have to face this trial.

The shawl visited the Field of Heroes during the Memorial Day holiday.

#41 Oregon

Name: Jackie

Ravelry Name: AThousandCranes

Location: John Day, OR

Occupation: Legal Secretary

Here's what I wrote in the Traveling Journal accompanying the Traveling Shawl:

'My mom, Hisako from Hiroshima, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1991. Actually, back then, all of the sisters still alive in her family developed breast cancer within 5 years of each other. How strange. I guess this was yet another reminder of the atomic bomb legacy in our family.

I knew that the lace was a mauve-ish pink but I didn't realize that it was my mom's favorite shade of mauve until I opened the box. What a lovely surprise … made me tear up a bit. If she was still alive, I know that she would've wanted me to knit her one just like it. So, if I don't win the raffle, I guess I'll have to knit a twin sister to the Traveling Shawl in my mom's memory.

I knit my six rows in memory of my mom, Hisako Otani Brown. I knit in honor of all survivors, my loving respect for your strength and beauty represented in this handwork.'

Article in the Salt Lake Tribune

Here is another article. This time in the Salt Lake Tribune.

#40 Utah

Name: Nancy
Ravelry Name: KnitThisPurlThat
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Occupation: Teacher

I had a wonderful experience with the Traveling Shawl...it was touching yet fun. My husband and I took it up to the Olympic Stadium at the University of Utah - the site of the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics. In the background of the second photo you can see the caldron - it's an amazing sight.

We also took it to the Komen Race For The Cure! I heard there were 18,000 participants this year. We passed out flyers and spoke to many people about the shawl.

I was interviewed for a newspaper article and the paper had a photographer take pictures while I knit my rows. We used the Cancer Wellness House as the setting...it's a wonderful resource in our community.

Finally, here is a photo from my chemo days with the shawl nestled in front. This is where I contemplated what the shawl experience meant to me, and I thought of the women who helped me along the past four years.

I knit in memory of Robyn who inspired me in countless ways as she continued to teach as long as she possibly could.

I knit in memory of Val who told me her cancer had spread to her brain and spine, yet she offered her phone number to me and told me to call if I needed someone to talk to.

I knit for Gina who spends so much time and energy mentoring women online, guiding them through the hardest parts of the journey. Thank you for everything Towanda!

I knit for the women and men who knit chemo caps and afghans for others, giving them one of the best gifts of all - something made from the hands and heart.

I knit for Brenda and Phyllis - my Towanda sisters - who are still in the fight. I think of you often.

And I knit for the women who will find a lump in their breast today...

I found a pin in the airport gift shop, and this was written on the packaging...it sums up my experience with cancer:

Life's Rider

The ride was long and hard and I lost my dreams along the way.

When I arrived, I found them waiting.

- Alice Seely

#39 ALASKA

Name: Monica
Ravelry Name: Snowmagnolia
Location: Fairbanks, AK
Occupation: Administrative Assistant
In honor of all breast cancer survivors.

#38 WASHINGTON

Name: Vicki
Ravelry Name: K3t2vk
Location: Renton, WA
Occupation: Working in accounting, counting off the years until retirement.
In honor of Susan, one of my co-workers, who had breast cancer and is cancer free today.

APRIL 27^th

I was so excited to see the package from Hawaii on my doorstop and could hardly wait to open it. My cat, Trizzo, was just as curious.
The journal was left unopened until after I knit my six rows. I needed to think just of the women who have been in my life with breast cancer: my co-worker, Susan and Cynthia, a neighbor for many years who are survivors. I wondered how Sandy, the woman I worked with 13 years ago was doing and I thought of my neighbor, Patty, who lost her battle last summer and left two darling young girls. And I thought of the pain of my co-worker, Amy, who lost her sister a few years ago.
Coming from a family of three girls and have two girls of my own and a granddaughter I feel so strongly that this awful disease needs to be eradicated.
I then shed many tears as I read through the journal. As a cancer survivor myself, it was very moving.
The shawl went with me to work so it could be shared with my co workers who are always so supportive of all of my knitting. Then off to the shipping department to have it wing it’s way to Alaska . God Speed!!

#37 Nevada

Name: Laralee
Ravelry name: Laralee
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Occupation: Catalog Librarian
In memory of Willa Ballard

I would like to include some excerpts from my last visit with Willa, the friend I knit in memory of.

Sunday, August 5, 2007
Today I had the opportunity to go with a number of my friends from church to visit a fellow sister who is only a few days or hours from death. Willa Ballard is one of my sisters in the Gospel who I visit teach. A convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of about 4-5 years, this tiny little sister was battling breast cancer at the time of her conversion. Everyone that met her was impressed with her great spirit and luminous smile.

For several years she had good health, but this year her cancer returned as well as a particularly fast acting form of lung cancer. It had been a month since I'd seen her, and her small body was wasted and she is unable to eat or drink and only somewhat aware of goings on around her. Even so, as we identified ourselves and expressed our love, we would see her beautiful smile.

When asked on Saturday what her happiness level was she said it was at a six. The thing she wanted that would raise her to a seven was to be at church. This wasn't possible so church came to her. We sang her favorite church hymns, Praise to the Man and Come, Come, Ye Saints and the sacrament was prepared for her by the Bishop and Ward Clerk, both her dear friends.

I may never see her again in this life, my friend Willa. But her impact on me is enduring. Strength, courage, beauty, and faith are but some of what I have learned from her.