No, this blog isn’t going to morph into The Crocheting Doctor. I had one of those moments at work this past week that reminds me why I will always love being a physician. I had admitted an elderly lady with dementia to the hospital earlier in the week with a diagnosis of “altered mental status”. Basically she was sent in for placement in a nursing home because they couldn’t take care of her at the facility she was in. Always the optimist, I tinkered with her medications and stopped some sedating drugs she was on, and the next thing I knew, she was awake and alert. She was still quite demented, mind you, but now very alert and interactive. One of the staff had mentioned that she was once a knitter, so I asked her about it. She looked at me and promptly said, “No, crochet.” The next day I took her some leftover yarn (the leftover balls from this) and a crochet hook. When I took it out of the bag, she didn’t even wait for me to explain. Her eyes lit up and she took it out of my hands and just started in. I checked back periodically through the day, thinking she might need a bit of help. She never did get past that first row, but she crocheted one heck of a long blue chain. The yarn and hook were discharged happily from the hospital with her.
Many thanks to everyone who left birthday wishes. I had to work, but my guy cooked me a wonderful dinner when I got home. He’s upstairs making Ethiopian Doro Wat tonight. I have no idea what inspired this, but I’m not about to complain.
Just so I don’t get kicked out of the Knitting Kitty ring, here are some pictures of Lucy. Lucy found a pile of old papers that were slated for the shredder earlier this week. Note how she looks so freaking innocent in this one.
A while later I found her under the pile. This photo didn’t quite capture all the little shredded bits around her. I guess she was just trying to help.
You might wonder why there are rarely pictures of Willie. Will thinks he’s a dog, and doesn’t usually stay in one place long enough for pictures.
I have been slogging along on my three little projects, making slow but steady progress. Just because it’s so damned purty, here is a picture of Birch:
This yarn is pretty fidgety to knit with, but I adore this color. It’s finally getting to the point where I can see some progress! Oooooh! Little Birch leaves!
That was a wonderful thing you did for that woman! She may have just made a big long chain, but you must have made her so happy. I’m glad there are doctors like you out there.
Happy belated! And I’m totally bringing in a crochet hook and some yarn for my coworker’s mom who used to crochet… she’s got dementia, and we’ll see what she does with ’em! What you did was great.
Happy late birthday! Sorry I missed it and YAYYYY FOR LIBRAS!
Happy belated birthday! I’m a Libra as well 🙂 I spent my bday buying more knitting books (of course). Just wanted to say how beautiful Birch is!! I can’t wait to see it finished 🙂
Happy Birthday! People should say, “Hey, tomorrow is my birthday!” Somehow we just don’t do that! 😉 I loved your story concerning the women in the hospital…see, there IS something to this yarn ‘stuff’ I also love your lace project and can’t wait to see the progree 🙂
That is a wonderful story about the lady with the crochet hook. You’re special. So many doctors seem to have lost touch with the “people.” I wish you were MY doctor!
God bless you Lorette! My father has dementia so your beautiful story touched close to home. Thank you for bringing happiness to that woman. May we all be so lucky as to find an angel like you in our hour of need.
What an interesting site for a crafter. I’ve done a lot of sewing and needlework, but last winter I started a crochet project and got stuck because I can’t get the squares to the correct size using the stitches in the pattern. Would anyone be willing to help? I could email the
pattern.
Thanks. Joyce