The Connections Bernards Ridge Edition November 2020

theconnectionsnj.com HEALTH & WELLNESS PAGE 56 Barb’s story began in 2011 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Hoping to be immediately reconstruct- ed after having the mastectomy, she only told a few close friends. Due to complications, the hope for re- construction did not happen. Barb was now faced with the choice of what to do to appear “normal.” While exploring options for prostheses, Barb’s doctor commented that some women were not satisfied with many of the traditional prosthetics. They could be hot, heavy and uncomfortable against tender skin. When Barb asked what she should do, he asked if she knit. When she said yes, he showed her a photo of a “knit- ted knocker” and gave her a link where the pattern could be found. At the time Barb wasn’t in any con- dition to make one of these knock- ers herself, so she contacted a dear friend, asking for a favor. Her friend and super knitter, Phyllis, quickly agreed. Phyllis delivered Barb’s first knockers the following Sunday, while attending church. Barb hurried to the bathroom as soon as she received them and, abandoning the sock in her bra, she replaced it with the soft, lightweight, huggable, hand-knit substitute. She knew immediately that these beautiful “Knitted Knockers” needed to be made available, for free, to wom- en who need them, worldwide. Knitted knockers are soft, comfortable knitted prosthetics for breast cancer survivors. These prosthetics weigh only 2 ounces compared to the 2 plus pounds of a regular prosthetic. Most impor- tantly, the Knitted Knockers are FREE. Donations are used to supply yarn to our knitters. The Auxiliary of the JFK Medical Cen- ter Foundation along with its volun- teer knitters and supporters can make a soft, light weight prosthesis for you after your surgery. All we need is your cup size and the color you would prefer. We also have AQUA knockers for swimming. These are made of an acrylic yarn so they dry quicker. These prosthetics can be worn with any regular bra, sports bra, and mas- tectomy bra or post op camisole. We provide information and care in- structions as well. Lenore Grubman RN, a 9 year breast cancer survivor, is coordinator of this program on behalf of the Aux- iliary of the JFK Medical Center Foundation. To date they have pro- vided over 2000 “Knitted Knockers” to women and clinics worldwide! To contact Lenore for assistance or to make a donation, please call the Auxiliary office at (732) 321-7085. Barb’s story began in 2011 when she s iag s it breast cancer. g to be immediately recon- struc d after having the mastecto- my, she only told a few clo e friends. t co plications, the hope for reconstruction did not happen. Barb was now faced with the choice of what to do to appear “normal.” While exploring options for pros- theses, Barb's doctor commented that some women were not satisfied with many of the traditional pros- thetics. They could be hot, heavy and uncomfortable against tender skin. When Barb asked what she should do, he asked if she knit. When she said yes, he showed her a photo of a “knitted knocker” and gave her a link where the pattern could be found. At the time Barb wasn’t in any con- dition to make one of these knock- ers herself, so she contacted a dear friend, asking for a favor. Her friend and super knitter, Phyllis, quickly agreed. P yllis delivered Barb’s first knock- ers the following Sun ay, while tte i g church. Barb hurried to the bathroom as soon as she received them and, abandoning the sock in her bra, she replaced it with the soft, lightweight, huggable, hand-knit substitute. She knew immediately that these beautiful “Knitted Knockers” need- ed o be made available, for free, to women who need them, worldwide. Knitted knockers are soft, comfort- able knitted prosthetics for breast cance s rvivo s. These prosthetics weigh only 2 ounces compared to the 2 plus pounds of a regular prosthetic. Most importantly, the Knitted Knockers are FREE. Donations are used to supply yarn to our knitters. The Auxiliary of the JFK M dical Center Foundation along with its volunteer knitters and supporters can make a soft, light weight pros- thesis for you after your surgery. All we n ed is your cup size and the color you would prefer. We also have AQUA knockers for swim- ming. These are made of an acrylic yarn so they dry quicker. These prosthetics can be worn with any regular bra, sports bra, and mas- tectomy bra or post op camisole. We provide information and care instructions as well. Lenore Grubman RN, a 7 year breast cancer survivor, is coordinator of this program on behalf of the Auxil- iary of the JFK Medical Center F undation. To contact Lenore for assistance please call the Auxiliary office t (732) 321- 085. Community News… KNITTED KNOCKERS Ba rb’s story began in 2011 when she w as diagnosed with breast cancer. H oping to be immediately re o - st ructed af er having th mastecto- m y, she only told a few clo friends. D ue to complications, the hope for re constructi n did not happ n. Barb w as n w fa ed with the choice of w hat to d to ppear “normal.” W hile exploring options for pros- th eses, Barb's doct r commented th a some women were not satisfied wi th many of the traditional pros- th etics. The could be hot, heavy an d un omfortable against tend r sk in. W hen Barb asked what she should d o, he asked if h knit. W n she sa i yes, he showed er a photo of a “k nitt d knocker” and gave her a li nk where the pattern could be fo und. At the time Barb wasn’t in any con- dition to make one of these k ock- ers herself, so she contacted a dear fri n , asking f r a favor. Her friend and super itter, Phyllis, quickly agreed. Phyllis delivered Barb’s first knock- ers the following Sunday, w ile att nding churc . Barb hurried to the bathroom as soon as she received them and, abandoning the sock in her bra, she repl ced it with the soft, lightweight, huggable, hand-knit substitute. She knew immediately that these beautiful “Kn tted Knockers” need- ed to b made available, for free, to women who need them, worldwide. Knitted knockers are soft, comfort- able knitted prosthetic or breast cancer survivors. These prosthetics weigh only 2 ounces compared to the 2 plus p ds of a regular pr sthetic. Most importantly, the Knitted Knocker are FREE. Donatio s are used to supply yarn to ur knitters. Th Auxiliary of the JFK M dical Center F undati n along with its vol te knitte s and supporters can mak a sof , light weight p os- thesis for you after your sur ery. All we need is your cup size and the color you would prefer. We also have AQUA knocke s for swim- ming. These are made of an acrylic yarn so t y dry quick r. These prosthetics can be worn with any regular bra, sports bra, and mas- tectomy br o post op camisole. We provid information and care instructions as well. Lenore Grubman RN, a 7 year breast cancer survivor, is coordin to of this program on behalf of the Auxil- iary of the JFK Medical Center Foundation. To contact Lenore fo assista ce please call the Auxiliary office t (732) 321-7085. Co unity e s KNITTED KNOCKERS