Local residents make heart-shaped pillows for breast cancer victims

How one of the pillows would look like

Having to deal with breast cancer and undergoing breast cancer surgery is painful, but members of the Elizabeth Villas Have a Heart Dolls aim to make it a softer experience.

The new group-which consists of about 16 residents from the Elizabeth Villas in the Village of Caroline-meet on a regular basis to make heart shaped pillows for recovering mastectomy patients. 

“I started this group because I was in a similar group back in Illinois-also called Have a Heart,” said Carol Bonebrake, the group’s leader. “It was started in our church for breast cancer people. I felt so strongly about it that I wanted to do the same thing here, and the neighbourhood decided they would join me.” 

Although Bonebrake is not a breast cancer survivor, she has close friends and family who have had the disease.

“Breast cancer patients are very sore after the mastectomy, and they use these pillows to protect the area that is tender,” she said. “They can also put it in the back of their head during chemotherapy, and to hold or rest their arm.”

And each time the group meets they make about ten fleece pillows.

The pillows are made of fleece decorated with fringers, and come with a tag that reads, “Made with Love.” 

The group doesn’t charge for pillows, but will accept donations to purchase materials.

“I am very passionate about this,” Bonebrake said. “Not only is it a comfort from the warm, fuzzy pillow, but also an emotional and psychological comfort.”

And the response from the community has been overwhelming.

“People will get them for their mother or sister,” she said. “It has been very rewarding.”

Former breast cancer patient Kathy Batman who was diagnosed with the disease in 1987 is now a member of the Have a Heart Dolls.

“I was very lucky because I caught it early,” she said.

After undergoing surgery she was checked every six months.

However, one year later a pre-cancer was found in her other breast prompting her to have it removed and reconstructed.

“I am a positive person,” Batman said. “First of all I was shocked and I was angry that my body betrayed me. I was 40 years old.

“The second time round I kind of knew what to expect,” she said, “If you move your arm you could feel the pain in your fingers-that’s how sensitive you are afterward. I wish I had a heart-shaped pillow instead of the small moon-shaped pillow I had.”

Love and support of family and friends got Batman through the disease.

“They supported me wonderfully,” she said.

Now she helps out with the Have a Heart doll.

“I wish this group had been there (for me),” she said. “The pillows are so soft, and (it helps) to know that someone made this thinking about you.”