sheep in the city

Kaps for Kendall

I have been meaning to talk about this for a long time now...really, ever since I started my blog. But everytime that I start to blog about it, something stops me...I am overwhelmed with sadness and can't seem to put my thoughts down. I am going to do it this time though. Here goes...

This is a picture of my friend Kendall and I on the morning she left for Minneapolis to have a bone marrow transplant last February. Fanconi Anemia is the name of the disease she had, and she was just 20 years old when she passed away from complications of the transplant. A few months earlier she had learned to knit, and we sat around knitting and just being quiet together a few times (not nearly enough) in the weeks before she left town. She would really talk your ear off if you got her alone and talking, about something she was passionate about, like children, starting an orphanage, her music, her hair, or her unique hands. She knew that she was going to lose her hair, and that was upsetting, but that didn't stop her...she just learned to knit fun and funky hats! We had an interesting relationship, I really felt connected to her and like our friendship was just beginning...and then she was gone. I have the assurance that she is in a better place and that I will see her in heaven someday...that was and is still a huge comfort to me.

I am friends with her sisters Allison and Whitney as well, and they have started a foundation in honor of Kendall. Kaps for Kendall is what they are calling it. On November 13th, 2004 there will be a fundraiser to benefit the Fanconi Anemia Research fund and handknit kaps are being collected in memory of Kendall. After the benefit, the hats will be donated to children and adult cancer treatment centers here in Denver and the hospital that treated Kendall in Minnesota.

Here are a few of the hats that I have collected from various knitting groups that I belong to here in Denver. Even though the event is in a couple of weeks, they are going to continue to gather hats and donate them in Kendall's honor year round. I would love to have some of my blogging buddies join in this worthy cause!