Patches of Love Quilt
Read the touching stories behind the patches making up the Patches of Love quilt.
Patches of Love Quilt Square Stories
Judith Walker
To Remember : Robert N. Test
The day will come when my body will lie upon a white sheet neatly tucked under four corners of a mattress located in a hospital busily occupied with the living and the dying. At a certain moment, a doctor will determine that my brain has ceased to function and that, for all intents and purposes, my life has stopped.
When this happens, do not attempt to instill artificial life into my body by the use of a machine. And don’t call this my deathbed. Let it be called the Bed of Life, and let my body be taken from it to help others lead fuller lives.
Give sight to the man who has never seen a sunrise, a baby’s face or love in the eyes of a woman. Give my heart to a person whose own heart has caused nothing but endless days of pain.
Give my blood to the teenager who was pulled from the wreckage of his car, so that he might live to see his grandchild play. Give my kidneys to one who depends on a machine to exist. Take my bones, every muscle, every fiber and nerve in my body and find a way to make a crippled child walk.
Explore every corner of my brain. Take my cells, if necessary, and let them grow so that, some day, a speechless boy will shout at the crack of a bat and a deaf girl will hear the sound of rain against her window.
Burn what is left of me, and scatter the ashes to the winds to help the flowers grow.
If you must bury something, let it be my faults, my weaknesses, and all prejudice against my fellow man.
If, by chance, you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you. If you do all I have asked, I will live forever.
Sent in Memory of Judith Walker who passed away on August 28, 1997.
Tom Mueller
Our husband- father- grandfather- to some was a rough and tough guy. Many teased him about his “stone face”. We, his family, knew him as a more tender, caring man. He put his whole heart and being into everything he did. From friends, to community, to school, to family, he helped out any way he could. Family was most important though.
He conveyed the importance of being one- togetherness in a family, to all of us. There was more to him than meets the eye. On one side he appeared strong, knowledgeable, powerful, and tough- making his presence known. Yet, he was gentle, modest, soft spoken, quiet, and loving. He was a caring man who gave all of himself. He was so full of love, of life, and the spirit of giving that even in death he gave of his body so others may not suffer. We are sure, now, he is giving more to us every day. He guides, protects, and loves us each and every day. We miss you Dad and pray for the day we may all be joined together again as one.
Lenora Jean McEndree
My sisters and I decided on a purple Angel because our Mother had great faith in the Lord. Church was a big part of her life and who she was. She had some heartaches in her life, but she kept her faith. Her Birthday was in February and her birthstone was an amethyst.
This was her favorite color. She would have loved knowing she helped somebody have a better quality of life.
Brandon Brouillete
When they asked that we participate with a square for the quilt, of course, we said yes. What a wonderful way to spread our son’s memory around.
As I was thinking of memories and possibilities for the square, I kept thinking about the recipients. Especially the liver recipient who has become a special person in our lives.
I finally came up with the idea of “Soul Mates”. I have always believed that God has a reason for everything that happens. In my sons case his liver was damaged and we never thought it would help someone else. We prayed that he would be able to donate feeling like his death wouldn’t be for nothing. During his last 7 days his liver healed itself and was transplanted into another child that has had a remarkable outcome.
So I made the square for my son, Brandon, and Bryan, the liver recipient.
A gift of life from me to you From strangers to soul mates
The adjoining hands in the center are for my son and Bryan. With God’s help, Brandon was able to give Bryan and several others the wonderful gift of life!
Harry Ray Fain
Our square is in honor of our wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. He was such a playful sweet person. Daddy’s family was everything to him. He was married for forty years to his childhood sweetheart, had three children and four grandchildren. We all miss this special man. He would do anything to help anyone he knew. His last gift helped two men to be able to live a normal life. He would have been so pleased.
– The Fain Family
Erin Michael Schroeder
June 10, 1978 – July 15, 1992
Erin was 14 years old when he was taken from his home and family here on earth, to forever spend eternity in the glory and majesty of heaven with our Heavenly Father. By having faith in this knowledge, we have peace in our hearts.
There is not one day that goes by that Erin doesn’t enter our thoughts- perhaps a favorite cartoon, food, or sports team will release a flood of memories. Or maybe a particular road well traveled, or the way some of his character traits are seen and heard through his younger brothers. Memories and love will keep Erin with us always.
Erin was a walking encyclopedia of sports information from his very young days! He could tell you anything about any athlete, no matter what sport or what year. The football, baseball, and basketball emblems on his quilt piece represents Erins’ love of sports and his proven skills at them. He had the size and stamina it takes to be a great athlete, and we know in our hearts that he would have had many scholarships for his athletic abilities.
The Schroeder family has been in the farming business forever, and Erin was no stranger to tractors and hard work. When he was little he took many a nap inside the cab of a John Deere with his Dad, Grandpa Dan, or Uncle Ron behind the wheel.
The verse that is on Erin’s quilt piece touches our hearts deeply. We find the analogy of the human life to a beautiful blooming lily to be so very true. You see, we don’t know why our loved ones must leave us when they do, to be in a much more “gentler place”, but we can find comfort in knowing that they never will ever truly leave us because of the many memories we hold so dear in our hearts.
Erin will forever be our beautiful lily.
Sadly missed but never forgotten by,
Dad, Mom, Ryan, Riley Mom, Paul, Mindy Family & Friends
Devin Allan Lucas
Devin was brought into this world on Monday, December 29, 1997 at 8:15pm. He was the most precious thing in the world. Unfortunately, the following day he was transported to Children’s hospital in Columbus to have surgery on his intestine. He came through great. Now he just had to recover and start eating and gaining a little more weight.
For the next three and a half weeks, my husband and I and several family members spent countless hours just being together with Devin. (And today we are so thankful that we had so much time together as a family.) He had a few more complications along the way, but for the most part was getting better. Then we found out some very devastating news; Devin had been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. After the shock wore off, we realized that we would learn to live with this disease and someday soon they would have a cure for it. We finally got to bring our precious baby boy home for the first time Saturday, January 24, 1998. He was a very healthy and happy and growing every day.
On Monday, February 9, 1998, on his six week birthday, the morning started out with Devin being a little on the fussy side. Who would have ever thought that in just a couple of hours Devin would stop breathing. We had done everything in our power to save him. In the emergency room, after they took him off of the machines and placed him in my arms one last time, a hospital personnel asked us very politely about organ/ tissue donation. Without even thinking twice, my husband and I said Yes! We wanted to help some other family so that they would not have to go through the pain that we were experiencing at that moment. We wanted to give Devin the chance to live on through someone else.
Death is a very hard thing to cope with, but my husband and I trusted that God knew what he was doing. We agreed that Devin was so perfect that he deserved to be in the most perfect place and that is Heaven. He will always have a very special place in our heart and lives. And through organ/ tissue donation, he also is a special part of many other lives.
Thank you for the opportunity to share a little bit about our special little angel that still lives on.
James H. Foster
As you can probably determine from the theme I chose, James Foster was a music lover. Especially jazz. Approximately 10 years before his death, he played his favorite hymn (Just a Closer Walk with Thee) in jazz formation, on his piano. At that time he told me it was what he wanted played at his funeral.
All the music at the funeral was jazz, something different, but it was what he wanted. I received nothing but favorable comments following the ceremony.
I want to tell you, that my sister, Charlotte Cooper, was so impressed by the idea of the quit that she wanted to help. She is a cornea recipient, therefore being able to help with this square made her feel she was giving her thanks. She did the satin stitch in the border and the embroidered music notes.
Thanks for allowing us to be a part of this endeavor.
Pamela Heil
The comedy- tragedy masks, drama symbols, represent our daughter’s aspiration to become a professional actress.
Pamela died on January 6, 1992 at the age of 22. Prior to her death, she played the role of Constanza, Mozart’s wife, in a Thiel College production of “Amadeus.”
The quilt square was designed and sewn by a family friend, Bonnie Massing.
Terrance John (T.J.) Sidney Baesmann
January 29, 1986 – November 18, 1997
Terrance John Sidney Baesmann (T.J.) was a very special boy and his quilt square is an attempt by his family to share him with the world.
T.J. was born on January 29, 1986 and was tragically injured at home on November 18, 1997.
His quilt square was created in his favorite team colors, the Miami Dolphins, teal and orange. The teddy bear angel is from T.J.’s teddy bear collection. The number thirteen on the angel is for his favorite player, Dan Marino.
Two of the best things about Terrance John were his heart and his beautiful blue eyes. These were donated to help someone else continue to love and have visions for a brighter future.
We will miss his smile, his sparkling blue eyes, and his love of life. We know he looks down on us from heaven and T.J. knows he will never be forgotten.