These little “knitted knocker” things that we give away for free at the shop have really got me thinking about opportunity and motivation these days. Knitted Knockers are knit prosthetic breasts that are an alternative to the silicone prosthetics many women use after they get a mastectomy.
My friend Linda told me about the knockers last fall and in February, the shop hosted a night where knitters were invited to come and make some knockers. Eighteen women showed up. I don’t know why this number amazes me so much, but it does.
The “knockers” the knitting circle made that night have now become part of women’s lives. Just this week a woman came in who had a mastectomy ten years ago. She had a hunched over posture and wasn’t wearing a bra. She said she just hasn’t been able to find a bra/silicone breast combination that worked for her – every combo she’s tried has been too heavy. As we talked about bra options, it was obvious that she’d had these discussions with other places that sold mastectomy bras. Her body’s hunched back really made it tough for her to wear a bra and the weight of silicone prosthetics just made it worse. I introduced her to the knitted knockers display we have by the front counter.
“You’re kidding,” she said. I was a bit taken aback as my mind went right to the negative – I thought maybe she was being critical of the handmade knockers. (Why do we do that?)
She wasn’t being critical at all.
She picked one up and then another that matched size-wise and held them up high in the sunlight. She turned to show her friend, “Can you believe this? …Did you see these? I can’t believe I’ve never seen anything like this before…”
After a little more conversation, she left with the knockers nestled in pretty tissue in a pink JOY bag, and some hope that she hadn’t had in a long time.
Hope. It is powerful stuff.
Another woman came in a few months ago that still had the bandages on from surgery. She didn’t know what she wanted or needed – or even if she was ready, but she wanted to just see if there was something for her in the bra shop as she embarked on her new post-mastectomy life. I heard her story a little bit in the dressing room and brought her a “care” bra that we carry. We sell too many of them. The bra is no-wire, front-closure, and is made of just about the softest cotton I’ve ever felt – the sort of bra you might need if you are undergoing or have just undergone any type of care. I also brought in a couple of knockers in different sizes.
She left wearing the smallest pair of knockers we had inside her new bra and over her bandages. Seeing her come out of that dressing room is an image I’ll never forget. She too left the shop with some hope she hadn’t had in a long time.
That same woman came back a few weeks later and I asked her how the knockers worked out. She told me they were awesome and leaned into me like she was talking to a girlfriend on the down-low and asked, “Think I could get a couple bigger ones?” I pointed to the bowlful of knockers and said, “Take your pick. Knock yourself out.”
We’re having another knitted knocker night this Thursday night and if it’s anything like the one we had in February, the knitters are going to come in, sit down, and get right to business using their gift to create these little symbols of hope. Our partners Lynn and Amy from Black Sheep Yarns in Dorset will be there too offering their gift of expertise and the right “tools” (yarn, fill, and needles) for those who need it.
We’ll have a big bowlful of knitted knockers at our sponsor table at the Race for the Cure this Saturday. There will be a lot of hope there at Hildene Meadows with walkers, runners, sponsors, organizers, friends, volunteers, and survivors all coming together with a common cause…a common hope…to save lives and end breast cancer.
Hope. It’s what’s been motivating me these days. Actually, it’s what motivates me to do anything.
Anchored in gratitude, love, and hope – always hope,
Joy
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Hebrews 6:19 (NIV)
