My Little Unplanned Crochet Shop Story
Hi, I'm Bee. Back in 2013, I started PaperBey and created planner stickers. I moved to the US and eventually my shop went on a "permanent vacation". Well, Etsy, I'm baaaack! And here's my new story for my new shop.
In August 2022, I started losing feeling and function in the lower half of my body. Doctors found I had a large spinal cord tumor that was pressing on my nerves. I had an emergency neurosurgery, lasting about 12 hours. The surgery removed a good amount of my spine and a lot of the tumor, but not all of it. I have suffered a spinal cord injury as a result of the surgery. I spent almost a month in the hospital, recovering and learning how to stand and walk again. I haven't regained full feeling in my lower half of the body but I can walk short distances with little to no assistance again, which I am grateful for.
Since surgery, I have been diagnosed with a rare brain cancer. My care was elevated to MD Anderson, a world renowned cancer treatment center. I am now a patient there but each visit involves traveling and its associated expenses. My medical team is still confirming my official diagnosis (as it is so rare and mainly presents as a pediatric cancer) and treatment plan. It is one thing to live with a cancer diagnosis, but a whole different ballpark to be diagnosed with a super rare one.
I have learned so much about brain cancer but also specifically about patients with DLGNT (diffuse leptomeningeal glioneuronal tumors), which is what I am told I have. Most of these patients are young children. I admire their fight to battle this cancer. Cancer is hard, but, as a mother to a young child, I can not imagine what it must be like for the children going through this. I have learned there is relatively very low funding for pediatric cancer research compared to other cancers. This does not sit well with me.
I took leave after my surgery but went back to work full time in November 2022. My close friends and family know I was really into woodworking before surgery but it's difficult to do now with my disability, so I picked up crocheting again, as it's less physically intensive!
I hope to be able to raise some awareness for brain cancer, pediatric cancers and other rare diseases. I also hope to raise some funds for my medical expenses - as if cancer isn't bad enough, it costs a lot too - which is why I created my little shop for you to "adopt" these cute little creatures. All I want to be able to do is maintain our current quality of life and take my little one on adventures while I can! 🥹
