Cancer patient caps a labor of love for area knitters
PRESQUE ISLE — The generosity and talent of a group of knitters and crocheters from throughout central Aroostook will benefit patients undergoing treatment at The Aroostook Medical Center’s Aroostook Cancer Care.
Photo courtesy of The Aroostook Medical Center
JACQUELINE GOODINE, left, of Hooks and Needles, presents 51 hand-knit and crocheted hats to staff at TAMC’s Aroostook Cancer Care to give to patients undergoing treatment. Accepting the donation are, from left: Dr. Arjun Sood, Nancy Cronkite, practice specialist; and Brenda Baker, manager.
A group calling themselves Hooks and Needles, with 16 members ranging in age from 8 to 78, have been at work for several weeks knitting and crocheting hats for cancer patients who undergo treatment and lose their hair as a side effect to chemotherapy. Recently, the group presented 51 hats to staff at Aroostook Cancer Care, the first installment of what they intend to be many more.
“My mom passed away after being diagnosed with multiple myeloma and nearly every member of our group has been impacted or had a family member impacted in one way or another by cancer,” said Jacqueline Goodine, one of the group’s leaders who helps teach others who join the circle how to crochet. “For some of us this is about using our talent to honor a loved one’s memory, for others it is about honoring the courageous efforts of someone who has fought a battle with cancer, and for all of us, it is a labor of love.”
Hooks and Needles uses donated yarn to make hats and shawls for those undergoing cancer and other treatment at area health care facilities. Members, who come from Presque Isle, Mars Hill, Fort Fairfield, Caribou, Mapleton, Washburn and Wade, meet every Saturday from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library in Presque Isle.
There is no membership fee to belong to the group or any other cost associated with membership. Interested residents do not even need to know how to knit or crochet to join — mentors step up and volunteer to teach new participants.
The more than four dozen hats recently donated by Hooks and Needles to TAMC’s Aroostook Cancer Care come in a variety of styles and colors to match the varying tastes of patients. They also come created using a variety of different yarns including acrylic, wool, sports, soft, and even alpaca.
“When patients are diagnosed with cancer, not only are they facing a life-threatening illness but they are also facing potential changes in their appearance. The loss of a person’s hair during chemotherapy can at times be devastating to patients, and the hats donated by Hooks and Needles allow staff to offer patients a way to express their style in a way their hair once did,” said Brenda Baker, manager of TAMC’s Aroostook Cancer Care, the most comprehensive cancer treatment service north of Bangor.
The team of four physicians, a physician assistant, and experienced support staff has a high level of expertise and uses cutting-edge technology to provide exceptional care. As a member of EMHS, TAMC provides access to a regional network of advanced cancer care services that can benefit those impacted by cancer.
