Stitches that can make a patient smile

Stitches can heal in various ways.

Just ask Gloria Kim and Sarisha Menon, third-year medical students and co-presidents of MUSC’s Healing Stitches Crochet Club.

Together, they have grown what started as a relaxing hobby into a full-fledged club dedicated to patients at MUSC and in the community.

 

“Our initial goals were relaxation, teaching new members how to crochet and donating what we made to the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital,” Menon said. “We started by making hats, blankets, beanies and soft toys. Then we expanded to include other organizations.”

At least 70 other MUSC students have gotten “hooked” and signed up to crochet for a cause. The boon in membership has allowed the club to expand its outreach and offerings.

This semester, the club partnered with the Lowcountry Ovarian Cancer Alliance student group to teach more than 30 members how to crochet cancer ribbons representing various cancers.

Most recently, Kim and Menon have registered with Knitted Knockers, a national breast prosthesis organization that distributes knitted breast prostheses to women who have undergone mastectomies.

They’ll be promoting Knitted Knockers at MUSC’s inaugural Breast Cancer Survivorship Celebration on Oct. 8 at Modern Minds in Mount Pleasant and at the MUSC Wellness Center’s Breast Cancer Survivors’ Expo on Oct. 25. 

“Our goal is to make and distribute the prostheses to every MUSC breast cancer treatment clinic in the Charleston area,” Menon said.

She and Kim are working with Andrea Abbott, M.D., a board-certified surgical oncologist who specializes in treating breast cancer patients, to make them available to patients. Meanwhile, club members are busily crocheting the prostheses using yarn and patterns specified by the national organization.

“There’s a definite need for Knitted Knockers,” Menon said. “They’re soft, comfortable and washable, and they’re made in various shapes, sizes and colors. Moreover, they’re an accessible option. For some women, they may be a temporary option, but for women who have no insurance or cannot afford medical-grade prostheses, they can be used long term.”  

And the benefits reach beyond recipients. For Kim, crocheting combines her love of art with a desire to serve the community. “I’ve always had an appreciation for art and creativity, and there are so many things you can do with crochet,” she said. “Plus, I have found crocheting to be very comforting and relaxing. It provided me solace and comfort during a time when I really needed it.”

Menon agrees. “I think it’s why we picked up the hobby when we did,” she said. “I would see Gloria crocheting during lectures, and I found working with my hands very calming. A few of us enjoyed it and said, “Let’s just start a club.’”

 

Membership is open to all MUSC students, faculty and staff. No experience is necessary, and students can join on Engage. At the club’s monthly meetings, held in the MUSC library, Menon and Kim teach the basics of crocheting. The club provides hooks and yarns for those just starting out. Both say crochet work can be trickier than it looks, but it can be learned if one is patient and works at it, and it can become a lifelong hobby.

“Art and medicine are not divorced from each other, and this club is a very good medium that links the two,” said Kim, who is considering becoming a neurologist or surgeon.

“I also think crocheting encourages creativity and helps members engage by doing something physical with their hands. In this art of digital technology, it’s very grounding, and it improves dexterity.”

Menon said being creative and artistic has enriched her life. “It’s meaningful to create and donate to people in need and to make unique gifts for family and friends. I want to be a pediatrician, and it gives me a lot of joy and comfort to be able to give to the children at Shawn Jenkins.”

The club shares meeting announcements via the Student Government Association’s regular email broadcast, on Instagram, through Engage and on fliers posted in the MUSC library.