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"NOT MY CHILD"
Mary Anne Ray. 2000. Louisville, Kentucky. Cotton and silk. Dyed, painted, stamped, beaded. Machine pieced, hand applique. 62" x 72 ".
My daughter, Erica, was ten years old when her brain tumor was discovered in 1997. She has a craniopharyngioma, a benign brain tumor that can have devastating effects on some people.Today, Erica is a healthy, happy young lady, who has a wonderfully compassionate and generous spirit.
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I decided to make this quilt after I had recovered a great deal from my personal grief over Erica's condition. I wanted to acknowledge brain tumor sufferers and heighten the awareness of the public to brain tumors. Being a textile artist, making a quilt was the best way I knew how to go about doing this.
I contacted an internet brain tumor support group and asked for names and diagnoses of people who wanted to be on my quilt. I got responses from all over the United States, from Canada, England, and Australia.
There are sixty-nine names on the quilt, including Erica. Every type of brain tumor is represented. There are children, fathers, mothers, sisters, and brothers. Many are survivors; sadly, some are not.
Many people sent their stories. Some stories were heartbreaking, some inspiring. I was taken aback by the intense desire of parents who had lost children to have that child memorialized on my quilt. I was committed to making this my best work ever.
I am grateful to all of the people who contacted me. I wish to thank Dona Ross, my contact person for the support group, and Lynn Zawie, another contact, who volunteered to design the original website for the quilt in progress. (http://lsbdesigns.com/btquilt). Many thanks to my husband Russ, for encouraging me in my art, for ever present support during Erica's illness, and for helping me with this website. And thanks to Erica for inspiration, and just for being... Erica.
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