Creating Something Pretty

Side benefit — knitting helps with my neuropathy

Mom models her new pure wool shawl. I still need to weave in that little thread!

When I was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2021, I found that I could not use my hands properly. Writing became impossible and typing was difficult. It would take me three or four times as long to write a Medium article on my computer and cooking became a hazard. Even taking a shower was harder.

I could no longer do art because I couldn’t hold a paintbrush properly.

It was not a fun time.

I decided I needed to do what I could to retrain my hands to function.

I tried several approaches:

• I found a few cheap coloring books and used my ancient Crayola box with the sharpener and 64 crayons that I’d had for 40 years to color.
• I got modeling clay and squeezed it over and over while watching YouTube or reading
• I practiced writing — first in big block letters, then, over time, I started writing in cursive again. My signature is still not as good as it used to be, but it’s at least somewhat legible these days.
• I started to knit again.

That last one I am still doing because it’s very relaxing and allows me to be creative. Plus it helps with my peripheral neuropathy, which is a side effect of my chemo…