"It’s like someone is giving me a hug."

That’s what a delighted patient at Bridgeport Hospital’s Norma F. Pfriem Breast Care Center said when she first wrapped her Healing Shawl around her shoulders.

Healing Shawls are cozy, colorful, comforting wraps, knitted by volunteers and given to women who are coping with breast cancer. The idea got its start when Norma Brewer of Fairfield, a four-year breast cancer survivor, wanted to do something to make breast cancer patients feel better. She knitted a shawl and donated it to The Norma F. Pfriem Breast Care Center.

The shawl was a great success. Since then Norma has knitted 15 more shawls for patients who are newly diagnosed or those who are in treatment or in post treatment and are in need of a "hug." Word got around, and some area schools formed knitting clubs to create more shawls. Then seniors at the Baldwin Center in Stratford got into the act.

Would you like to join these volunteer knitters? Please call Sally Cascella or Sonya Hitt at The Norma F. Pfriem Breast Care Center, 384-3392. Learn how you can obtain directions to knit a "hug" for a breast cancer patient.

Breast Health Fairs and Yarn Fundraisers at Area Wal-Marts

It costs about $20 for the yarn to knit one shawl. So Sally Cascella, RN, Nurse Educator for the Breast Care Center, wrote to yarn manufacturer Coates & Clarke asking for a donation of yarn. This enabled still more people to knit shawls. Now fund-raising is underway to purchase more yarn for shawls.

Additionally, Bridgeport Hospital’s Norma F. Pfriem Breast Care Center and Wal-Mart have knitted a partnership to sponsor a month-long series of breast cancer health fairs, to take place during October, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Locations: Wal-Mart stores in Stratford, Shelton, and Derby

Times: October; Saturdays, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Come join us! Talk to breast cancer survivors and volunteers. Purchase a special Norma F. Pfriem Breast Care Center bookmark to help raise funds for Healing Shawl knitting supplies and for breast cancer education programs. And learn what you need to know about preventing and treating breast cancer.