Watershed

I entered a piece into an Exhibit for the Textile Center called Watershed.  It didn't get in, but I wanted to show it to you anyway.

3 years ago Oede8 was diagnosed with a rare form of brain seizures called Landau-Kleffner.  Only 300 kids in the world have been diagnosed with this syndrome a handful of them living in MN. Beginning in November of 2007 we noticed some behavioral and speech issues pop up with him. By February he was 95% non-verbal and the only communication we could have was by white board. His brain could not send or receive verbal messages which means he couldn't process what I would say and intern he couldn't put together the words to speak.

What does this have to do with an art quilt?

The entry asked for your watershed moment, a moment that you had an epiphany, and a piece that exemplifies that moment.

I remember exactly what and when it was.  After a very long day of trying to communicate with him with not much success, I turned to writing. Here is part of my journal entry for that day:
Why does this have to be so hard! I wish I didn't have to do this. Things were going so well.  Can I really do this all the time? I need to be strong. God help me!

God did help me. He pulled me up out of the darkest time I've had yet and made me believe that I could do whatever I set my mind to.

3 years later Oede8 has accomplished more that I could ever dream.  I made this piece for him.


~my interpretation of his brain
~shaving cream marbling on batting with yarn and machine quilting

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