A Thank You Letter from a Happy Capper

Dear Ladies,

Each of you donated a knitted cap that I selected at Texas Oncology. Since I've lost all my hair, and rather quickly after treatments started, I was so pleased to have the choice of pretty caps to cover my head and keep it warm. Your sensitivity and generosity are very much appreciated. I'm sure there are many, many of us undergoing chemo who are happily sporting caps you have made. Thank you very much.

Linda W.

Are You Ready for Cancer Jokes? Written by Sidney Love

This article was written by Sidney Love. There are many books with jokes to help people affected with cancer keep their sense of humor and bear the disease without allowing cancer to get the better of them. Here is what he wrote:
While humor is a good companion when you’re in treatment for cancer, you may not want cancer jokes for your personal companion. This is especially true if you just found out that you have cancer. I know because I have been there. However, after a period of tears and anxiety, I began to feel better during and after hearing cancer jokes. Eventually, you may want to come back here and read these jokes.

Like me, you may eventually discover that laughter helps the medicine go down. In fact, more than fifteen years ago 60 Minutes did a report about The Wellness Community, a support program for cancer patients and their families. They began by showing a room full of cancer patients laughing at this joke:

What do you call a person who has a compulsion to get lymphoma over and over again? . . .

A lymphomaniac.

Millions who watched the show probably asked themselves whether they would be able to find humor and laughter in the face of a life-threatening illness. For me the matter was certainly put to the test in 1993, when I was informed that I had prostate cancer. This was about the worst news that I had ever had. Terrified of dying a painful, miserable and lingering death, but recalling what I had read in Norman Cousins's book, "The Anatomy of an Illness," I obtained an armful of comedy videos and started to work. It didn't help. Maybe it might work for his illness, but cancer was another matter. Cancer was not funny!

Fortunately, however, I joined a cancer support group. In fact, it happened to be at one of the Wellness Community facilities. Then, after the first three months, I noticed that we laughed as much as we cried. Soon I was making jokes about my own condition. Surprisingly, I felt better! I even collected the jokes that I and other people brought to the group and was soon on my way to writing a book about healing humor for cancer survivors.

The point is that, when you are first informed you have cancer, there is no such thing as "humor." Once you have learned to live with your diagnosis and with your treatment, however, you can benefit from humor. A good laugh relieves stress for everyone, which researchers are beginning to demonstrate. The relief of laughter can be especially beneficial for cancer patients, who have more than enough stress to deal with.

It's now more than five years since my prostate was removed and since then no other cancer has been found. Was my cancer cured because I laughed? I don’t know. Of course, it could recur and the medical profession makes sure that I get periodic tests and check ups; yet I'm no longer overly concerned about having cancer.

What I do know is that laughing sometimes (and crying sometimes) greatly improved my quality of life. I have even known dozens of people with advanced cancer who managed to cope with their situation by using humor. That's why I was the humor editor of CancerOnline.org (which is no longer active). Now I'm glad to have LearningPlaceOnline use my jokes to bring humor into the lives of those who are going through the cancer experience—patients, caregivers, family and friends.

Featured Knitter

Wadad was born in Lebanon. Her nana taught her to knit when she was 7 years old. Her first project was a sweater for her brother. It took her 10 years to make! Wadad came to the United States in 1975. She went back to Lebanon and 15 years later she came back to the United States to live.
Wadad went to the Allen Senior Recreation Center one day and saw us knitting around one of the tables. She asked us what we were making. She has been sitting with us ever since that day. I've never seen anyone knit as fast as she does. And her caps are beautiful. Wadad is a very special person to us.

A 'Thank you' note from a 'Happy Capper'

Featured Knitter - Rose

Rose was born in Chihuahua Mexico with the name Rosario. We know her as Rose.
Rose learned how to knit when she was 15 years old but she didn't keep it up. Rose moved to Chicago in 1953 and in 2001 moved again to Texas. She lives with her husband in Allen. In 2009, Rose went to the Allen Senior Recreation Center. She saw all of the ladies sitting at a table knitting. It sparked an interest in her, remembering when she learned to knit so many years before. Rose picked up knitting right away and has been knitting chemocaps ever since. She knits four or five caps a week. Although Rose is a quiet person, she adds to our company of knitters. We are happy to have her in our group. Keep up the good work, Rose. There are many happy people wearing your caps.

And this from a man!

Not only are women pleased with our caps!
Here's a note from a man undergoing chemotherapy at Texs Oncology.

I just got one of your caps at Texas Oncology in Plano.
Thank you very much. It is warm and comfy to my newly bald head!



Den
Lymphoma Fighter

Thank you note for a 'Happy Capper'

Hi There!

I was in the Texas oncology center today to get my chemo treatment and I walked by a box full of beautiful hats!! I seen one just right for me and a worker there told me I should take it! Thank you, thank you!! Hats can be expensive. I really appreciate your community service as I'm sure many other women do too. I just wanted to let you know that you made my day today.

Thank you and have a great day!

Treasa

Featured Knitter - Pat

Pat lived in Rhode Island until 5 years ago when she moved to Allen Texas. She began going to the Allen Senior Recreation Center where she observed women sitting around a table every day, talking, laughing and knitting. She wanted to try to knit too. So she learned how to knit. That was in May 2010. She has been sitting at the table, talking, laughing and knitting ever since! And she knits at home too. She makes at least one or two caps a day.
Pat wanted to make colorful caps and makes each cap special because she feels people need something special in the part of their lives that they didn't plan on living through. Something they didn't ask for but, unfortunately, interrupted their lives. She knew that a cap to make them more comfortable could make a big difference in their recovery as they underwent treatment for cancer.
Pat knows how it is for cancer patients. Her daughter-in-law fought breast cancer. Pat was there to help her and care for her. Her daughter-in-law left a six year old and a two year old. Pat also took care of her sister and her sister-in-law when they had cancer.
Pat said that she enjoys learning and trying out new patterns. She said that the best way for her to learn is to watch others. We enjoy Pat's wit and conversation and seeing the new caps she brings in daily. And we know that there will be someone who will be thankful for Pat's contributions to Joyce's Chemo Caps. Joyce would be proud to know Pat.

New Series Starting- Featured Knitter

A new feature will be on Joyce's Chemo Caps

We will post a knitter or crocheter on the blog. Many would like to see who is making caps. I hope you enjoy reading about them.

Nice Letter from a Survivor's Son

My name is Frank A, and my mother is a surviving Lymphoma Cancer patient. She is currently attending UTSW medical center for a bone marrow transplant procedure to prevent the chances of cancer coming back, and it is there we had the joy of learning about this project.

I wanted to send a brief email and tell you how great your thoughtfulness and efforts truly are. Please accept my deepest and most sincere thanks for the beautiful caps, my mother has fallen in love with them. She was warmed to hear the story, and fully appreciated the gesture of your project with a meaning so grand behind it.

My mother's name is Gregoria, she becomes an inpatient very soon for her transplant, any prayers would be very much appreciated for her successful and speedy procedure and recovery.

May the memory of Joyce Schmitt live on forever, and may God continue to watch over us and lead us to the cure one day very soon.

Thank you again.