From Susie
March 7, 2006

     The hospital gown design was born of a loving friendship with Rita Fishel.  She owns the quilt store Creations Sew Clever in Chillicothe, Ohio and I had the pleasure to work for her part time.  It was a joy to work with a best friend, and beautiful family of friends surrounded by wonderful fabrics.     In December 2005 I was diagnosed with leukemia,  and my world seemed to become smaller as my battle was to be a long one.    As the odds seemed to mount against me, Rita became more inspired.   She pulled fabrics off the shelves that she thought would speak to my soul, designed a simple hospital gown pattern with Velcro closures, stitched them up , and brought them to me at the hospital like bouquets of flowers.  The gowns became quite a conversation piece as the doctors and nurses complimented me on the cheerful colors and themes.  They also like the convenience of the Velcro openings when doing procedures.  I loved wearing them and they certainly made me smile.
      One of  my doctors commented often that Rita should market the pattern commercially and profit from the design. Rita's response was that she did not want to profit from something that might bring some joy, a smile, and perhaps some comfort to those ill with the disease.   Rita's own Father, Jim McFarland had lost his battle with cancer several years previously.   Instead my sweet friend chose to make it a free pattern available on her good friend, Joan Hawley's web site.   How wonderful of Joan to make the pattern available and to donate her talent, energy, and fabric to the project.
      My story is one of faith, hope, prayers answered, and inspiration as I am in remission and each day is better day. I thank God for his many blessings and gifts.  My journey is documented on a family web site called Angel Garden News, started by my grandsons Matthew and Michael Williams and my oldest daughter Bonnie Reber.  It then became a family journal and was actively documented by my two other daughters Brenda Watterson and Elizabeth Stiving-Nichols.
      May you be blessed on this adventure called life, and as your needs are, so may your strength be.

      - Suzanne Stiving

    If you would like to contribute to the James Cancer Center at Ohio State University in Columbus, OH where Susie received her treatment: click here.