Handmade quilts regularly become treasured heirlooms containing family memories in each square. The Coupe family of Greenbank wants the quilt called “Kaitie’s Courage 2003” to show everyone a piece of their faith — a faith that has been tested during the past year, since 31/2-year-old Kaitie Richmond was diagnosed with cancer.
“Every stitch is a prayer,” said Kaitie’s aunt, Tina Coupe Schultz. “Making it encompasses all my prayers for Kaitie.”
Since her diagnosis last August, Kaitie, her parents, Jeff and Jennifer Richmond, and brother, Tyler, have been living in Seattle while Kaitie undergoes treatment at Children’s Hospital.
Her grandparents, Tom and Mary Coupe, own the Greenbank Store and have held several fund-raisers there for the family.
“It’s a commitment to Jenni and Jeff so they can stay with Kaitie throughout her treatment,” Mary Coupe said. “Kaitie has drawn such strength from having both her parents with her all the time. We want to help them with daily living.”
A drawing for the quilt will be held Monday at the Greenbank Store. Tickets are available at the store for $1 each or six for $5. All proceeds go to Kaitie’s Fund.
On Feb. 26 Kaitie celebrated her “rebirthday,” the day her stem cell transplant began. The little girl went through 96 hours of chemotherapy to kill all bone marrow and immune system before getting life-renewing stem cells. Stem cell transplants are used as a last resort to rescue patients from the most dire forms of cancer.
Kaitie’s immune system is showing signs of “rebirth” as her body heals from the intense treatment.
“Chemotherapy essentially burns her from the inside out,” Mary Coupe said. “She’s been on morphine drips for pain. Her mouth and lips have been swollen horribly with sores going all the way down her throat. That little child went through agony. She looked like a little cooked shrimp.”
Tina Coupe Schultz and Mary Coupe said finding material for the quilt, piecing and quilting it, gave them some peace during Kaitie’s six other chemotherapies and surgeries.
“The quilt started with six pink placemats from a thrift store,” Kaitie’s aunt said. Kaitie’s grandmother found other materials in pinks, blues and greens here and there. Island Fabrics in Freeland donated other material and quilting thread. Alice Kuras donated batting.
The almost twin-sized quilt is based on a nine-point Compass Rose star. It’s hand- and machine-pieced with hand- and machine-quilting plus some applique.
“It’s a treasure filled with our family’s prayers and hope and faith,” said Schultz.
“We’re torn,” said Mary Coupe. “We have hoped whoever wins will donate the quilt back to Kaitie.”
But if that doesn’t happen, the family won’t be bitter.
“We’re so grateful people donate to Kaitie’s Fund,” Mary Coupe said. “To have the quilt go out of our family is an extension of our faith. Whoever gets that quilt will be blessed.”
