Stitched hugs: ProMedica Monroe Auxiliary create lap robes for infusion patients
MONROE — Clutching a lap robe in hues of blue, Diana Molenda stood in the lobby of ProMedica Monroe Regional Hospital. Her eyes filled with tears as she spoke about the handmade gift she had just received.
Molenda, a Monroe resident and cancer patient, had arrived at the hospital for infusion therapy. Minutes before her treatment, she received the one-of-a-kind item from the hospital’s auxiliary.
“I know the work and the love that goes into these and it’s a keepsake,” Diana Molenda said.
Judy Valente of Monroe, another infusion patient, was also gifted a lap robe.
“This means that people care,” Judy Valente said. “When you’re a cancer patient you feel so alone. The cancer world is a very different place. It’s not your normal world, and when someone who doesn’t have cancer does something for one of us, it means so much.”
Marie McLaughlin of Monroe, auxiliary chairperson and gift shop coordinator, spoke to a small crowd gathered in the lobby. She explained the group’s newest project and how successful it has been in the brief time it's been in existence.
“Today, we honor all the knitters over the years. I have been here 20 years and, in that length of time, I have seen some incredible handiwork from the abundance of newborn hats to the transition of lap robes today for the infusion center,” Marie McLaughlin said.
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In the last four years, the group has made 2,500 baby hats. Going back 20 years, they have made 37,500 hats.
“Imagine all the warm babies,” McLaughlin said. “I recently went through my attic looking for something in particular and I found my son’s hat from 1981. I had put it in some tissue paper and when I opened it I realized how life comes full circle. I would love to know who knitted that little blue and white bonnet for my son.”
She said the knitters were moving from making hats to creating lap robes for the infusion patients. In six weeks, they have made 20 covers to donate.
“As someone in this group recently shared with me, ‘every stitch is a warm hug,’” McLaughlin said.
Rhonda Witte, director of medical oncology, greeted the crowd and shared that her three sons were born at the hospital and each one had a baby hat.
“It is a wonderful memory, and I am ecstatic that you can contribute to our medical oncology cancer patient and infusion patients because they need lots of hugs and warmth during their treatments,” Rhonda Witte said. “We greatly appreciate you thinking of us.”
McLaughlin said the yarn is provided through the auxiliary's budget and the covers are made in three different sizes.
Many of the members crochet or knit at home. Some members will bring their projects to work on while attending meetings. Auxiliary member Anita Bydlowski even invited the Midwest Head Hugger Group in Bedford to help.
The auxiliary serves as a link between the hospital and the community. The group’s mission is to render service to the hospital and community through fundraising and patient-related projects.
To become an auxiliary member, an application is required followed by an interview.
Once an application has been reviewed, the applicant is invited to lunch and their area of expertise as a volunteer is determined.
There are four membership meetings per year and $15 annual dues. Active members are required to serve a minimum of 10 hours per year.
Anyone interested in becoming a member can contact Jean at 734-241-6861.
— Contact reporter Lisa Vidaurri-Bowling at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Infusion patients receive lap robes from ProMedica Monroe Auxiliary
