After her 2012 victory over breast cancer, St. Louis resident Kathy Brooks wondered what more she could to do express gratitude to her plastic surgeon, Timothy O’Connell, M.D. A quilter for over 35 years, Kathy hoped her beautiful creations might offer comfort to others who suffered and appreciation for those angelic souls who served patients so selflessly.
“Dr. O’Connell did the reconstruction after my bilateral mastectomy,” Kathy explained “He’s such a kind, caring and patient doctor and now, a friend. I knew of his volunteer work for the CRUDEM Foundation, so after my last surgery I wanted to thank him for the support he gives me and that’s when I decided to make the quilts for him to bring to Haiti.”
Long time medical volunteer and former member of the CRUDEM Board of Directors, Dr. O’Connell took the two quilts, valued at $400 each, to Hôpital Sacré Coeur during his annual week long volunteer trip. There, Sister Ann introduced him to a 16 year old girl who had been paralyzed from the waist down for the last two years. Her parents had passed away two years prior from the cholera epidemic. The orphaned teenager lived alone, cared for by her neighbors, with only a mud floor as a bed. Kathy’s quilt and a new mattress brought the first little bit of comfort that she had experienced in a long time.
“I believe she really “loved” the beautiful quilt that Kathy made,” said O’Connell. “What an amazing experience!”
The second quilt found a very grateful home with an OR Nurse who began her quarter century career with Hôpital Sacré Coeur founder and first surgeon, Dr. Ted Dubuque.
“I was thrilled and honored to hear he gave one to the OR nurse and one to the young woman who is paralyzed,” noted Kathy.
