My Uncle Jan is married to my mom’s sister Shirley. He is a surgeon and my aunt is a surgical nurse. They worked together for years, had a practice in Radford, VA, and when I was growing up, they lived in a lovely house on the lake. Their house was where we went for huge family Thanksgivings and cookouts. Between them, Shirley and Jan have seven kids and there was always something doing over there.
When my sister Carrie and I were kids Shirley and Jan would put together medical kits for us with stuff like rubber gloves (they make great water balloons), tongue depressors and surgical masks. My sister went through a phase where she thought she wanted to be a doctor and Jan took her with him on rounds. In other words, they were everything you could ask for in an Aunt and Uncle.
Jan and Shirley are deeply religious and about 15 years ago they started going on medical missions to war zones and third world countries. At first they would go for a couple of weeks at a time, allowing the staff surgeon and nurse to take a vacation. But they fell in love with the work and soon there trips stretched for several months.
Before Jan and Shirley started taking these trips I didn’t realize that medical missionaries are responsible for paying for the majority of their own expense, including travel to and from their posting. It’s mad expensive but they were so dedicated to their work that Jan and Shirley sold their home and moved into much smaller quarters so they could retire and continue to bring medical care to people who wouldn’t otherwise receive it.
Together they have traveled to Sudan, Afghanistan, Nepal and all over Africa. I have heard some of their stories and they are pretty harrowing. The have been caught in the middle of fire fights and bombings on a couple of occasions. I remember hearing that they once did surgery on a man who had stepped on a land mine and walked ten miles holding his intestines in to get to their hospital.
In some countries they visited, my Aunt wasn’t allowed to do much more than sterilize the surgical tools because she is a woman. I know these trips were very hard on Shirley because she always left feeling like they didn’t do enough, could have done more.
Here is a picture of my Aunt and Uncle taken earlier this year.
In addition to his medical missionary work, my Uncle Jan is one of those guys who’s good at everything he does. He recently started woodworking, making beautiful bowls and rolling pins. He sings in his church choir, ran a Sunday school class, and took it upon himself to trim the dead branches in the trees at his church when he noticed they needed it.
That’s what he was doing last month when he fell 15 feet out of the tree and broke his neck and spine. It took a while for someone to find him laying there and somehow he managed to remain conscious until the ambulance arrived so he could tell the EMTs which vertebrae he had crushed!
My Uncle Jan, Dr. Levy as he is known to his patients, is now partially paralyzed. He has spent the last month at the Shepherd Center, a catastrophic care hospital in Atlanta , where he is receiving rehab and learning how to perform life’s most basic functions all over again. Although he is lucky he has regained a tiny amount of movement in his left hand- lucky to be alive for that matter- he will most likely spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair and his days performing surgery are most definitely behind him.
My Aunt Shirley has been by his side throughout this ordeal and is learning how to care for Jan, how to move him from his wheelchair to the bed without injuring herself, stuff like that.
Why am I telling you all of this? Because this couple that have done so much for so many people are going to need help. As I said, they sold their house years ago and used the profits to fund their medical missionary trips. Luckily they had good medical insurance, but the out-of-pocket expenses will quickly wipe out their retirement savings.
I’d like to try to raise some money to help purchase the wheelchair Jan will need when he returns home to Virginia next month. So I am raffling off my entire stash of yarn (that didn’t come from my sheep and goats) along with some other swell prizes.
What’s in the stash? Lots and lots of good stuff.
Here are some examples:
16 skeins of Frog Tree Alpaca in 4 colors
7 skeins Manos del Uruguay in goldenrod
25 skeins of mohair in three colorways
15 skeins of Plymouth baby alpaca
8 skeins Tahki Yarns 100% Merino Baby Print in two colors
and a whole lot more!
Each ticket is $10 and you can buy as many raffle tickets as you want. Grand prize it my entire yarn stash. Other prizes include: Six skeins of Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm yarn in the colorway of your choice:
My dear friend Maggie has generously donated two skeins of her amazing Little Grey Cat handspun yarn to the prize list.
“Bouquet”
“Lagoon”
Susan has given us an amazing prize! Five of her absolutely beautiful patterns:
Forest Canopy Shoulder Shawl, Spring Things Shawl, Elysian Mitts, Mountain Stream Scarf, and Lily of the Valley Smoke Ring. Any one of these patterns would be a treasure to knit up. Some lucky raffle winner will be getting all five patterns as PDFs.
Shareholder Sue Matthews is donating one of her babyslings (winner’s choice of fabric) as a prize and a handmade Waldorf style doll.
The photo below is the actual doll that she made just for the raffle. Her name is Lucie.
The photo below is the actual doll that she made just for the raffle. Her name is Lucie.
Trish from Frog Tree Yarns just called me to donate two bags (10 skeins each) of yarn to the raffle! Frog Tree make some beautiful alpaca yarns. I know their beautiful because you will find many of them in my own stash (see photos above). Frog Tree is a nonprofit and they do some amazing work. It turns out that Trish’s son and daughter-in-law are missionaries and she really connected with Jan’s story. I will post pics as soon as the yarn comes.
Sara Wilson is an amazing spinner with a shop on esty called theytoldmesew. Sara is donating your choice of either one skein of her handspun yarn or two hand-dyed rovings or two hand-dyed skeins of sock yarn from her shop. Postage is included on all three. I took a quick peek at her shop and was so taken with her beautiful yarns that I ordered some for myself.
astrahlgems has donated three set of her stitch markers- a silver set, a gold set and a bronze set.
My friend Colleen, the amazing dyer behind Spiffy Knits, has donated a skein of her hand-dyed yarn as a prize. The winner can choose a skein of sock yarn, some spinning, or a skein of worsted. Check them out here and here. Colleen has been dyeing yarn for MVFF and everyone loves it.
Painty from The Unique Sheep is donating a her Todos Scarf Kit in Sangria.
Blog reader Nelly Ortiz has donated a set of her handmade stitch markers.
Carla, thispiggyknits on rav, emailed me to tell me she is making a prayer shawl for my Aunt Shirley. I can’t even begin to say thank you for a such a heart-felt gift.
Shareholder Janelle G. has donated a “flat feet” in the pink/orange/yellow colorway and a skein of alpaca sock yarn in a rainbow colorway.
RubyShaphire yarns has donated the winners choice of FOUR (!) skeins of their lovely handpainted yarns as a prize. How on earth anyone is going to choose just four is a mystery to me.
Kay Meadors, Naturalstateknit on rav, has made a donation to add to the grand prize stash. Those of you on ravelry can see her donation here. It includes:
3 skeins of hand painted lace weight mohair yarn, approx. 1200 yards
950 yards of hand painted lace weight 100purewool
420 yards of hand painted sock weight yarn
2 small skeins of hand painted sock weight wool for baby socks.
My SockSack sock knitting tote and 2 sets of double pointed needles size 2; one set is 8” and the other is 5” for making baby socks.
And 2 of Kay’s patterns: Baby socks from the toe up and Rectangular Leaf Shawl.
3 skeins of hand painted lace weight mohair yarn, approx. 1200 yards
950 yards of hand painted lace weight 100purewool
420 yards of hand painted sock weight yarn
2 small skeins of hand painted sock weight wool for baby socks.
My SockSack sock knitting tote and 2 sets of double pointed needles size 2; one set is 8” and the other is 5” for making baby socks.
And 2 of Kay’s patterns: Baby socks from the toe up and Rectangular Leaf Shawl.
Megan, a.k.a notmartha, has donated one of her handmade, portable DPN cases, winner’s choice of fabric. These are so amazingly cool! I’ll be ordering one for myself as soon as the raffle winner picks which one they want. I have blogged before about the fact that I start every morning with notmartha.org and I am tickled pink to have a prize donated by Megan.
My mom, Carol Gibbs, has donate one share in the Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm Spring 2009 Yarn CSA. (Yes. She actually went on etsy and bought a share. Because she is just that supportive of her daughter’s business. I might have the best mom in the whole world.) The winner can choose to take their share in yarn, roving or raw fleece.
Crystal from baby-hugs has donated a set of knitting looms as a prize.
Thatotherredhead has donated a beautiful handmade shaw pin. 
Marcey from Babydoll Acres has donated a great prize- 11 ozs of her super-fine babydoll southdown roving (undyed) and two 12oz honey bears filled with honey from their own bee hives.
Nannyb has donated two stunning skeins of yarn for prizes: Wollmeise in Sultan and Sundara in Basil over Buttercup.
Sue Roth has donated her own mini-stash as a prize.
EDITOR’S NOTE: I was having a lot of anxiety about giving up my entire stash but I’m over it. The generosity of the fiber community, much of it from people who are complete strangers to me, has lead me to a whole bunch of amazing new yarn suppliers. I don’t think it’s going to take long to refill the sea captain’s chest that houses my current stash when it departs.
MVFF hats and t-shirts (two of each will be given away), and a few surprises. All the prizes are spectacular and valued at way more than $10.
Best of all, you can feel good about the fact that you are helping someone who really needs it and who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. Literally.
To enter raffle, just click the Donate button below. You can enter as many times as you like.
If you’d like to donate any raffle prizes to help make this fundraiser a success I’d be super-grateful. Just shoot me an email at susangibbs1 at mac dot com.
The drawing will be held on Sunday, July 13th at 6:00 p.m.
If you’d like to send some words of encouragement to my Uncle Jan and Aunt Shirley please leave a comment on this post. I will make sure they get them all.
If you’d like to send some words of encouragement to my Uncle Jan and Aunt Shirley please leave a comment on this post. I will make sure they get them all.
{ 74 comments }
← Previous Comments
Your story has moved me to tears, warmest wishes from the UK.
You are an amazing niece that has learned so much about giving from the example set by your equally amazing aunt & uncle.
Your story touched a spot in my heart because a dear teacher from my hometown was not so lucky in a similar accident. It is in his memory that I am donating to help your family. I hope you achieve and surpass your goals with this raffle!
Many hugs to you and your family!!!
What a wonderful thing you are doing! Seeing all of the donations brought tears to my eyes. I will keep your aunt and uncle in my thoughts.
Followed a link from Not Martha to get here, and I have one question: Will the Jan Levy Wheelchair Fund still be taking donations after the 13th?
I’m a little strapped for cash ’til payday, so no raffle for me — but people willing to give that much of themselves truly deserve something back.
You’re doing such a great thing here. Wishing you the best of luck with this.
And to Jan and Shirley, you’ve given the world an amazing part of you. I hope you receive some back now.
I don’t think that I can say much else that hasn’t already been said.
Let them know that I’ll be praying for them as well.
Best of luck with the raffle.
I am so sorry!!! I just donated and if by some chance I win, just keep your yarn stash, you are worth every bit of it and more!!
Praying hard!!!
Many blessing to you all!
God bless your Aunt & Uncle and you for what you’re doing.
Sandra Singh
Such generous hearts! Prayers for all of you as you go through this day by day.
What a wonderful raffle idea – I am always so happy to learn about the ways that we reach out to help one another. Humanity is beautiful. My thoughts are with you and your family as you begin this journey.
This made me tear up at work. My wishes go out to them. I’ve donated.
best wishes to them both and your family for the great amount of support you are showing them! It always seems that such things happen to good people, adding new challenges to their already dedicated lives. I am sure they are going to find a new way to do their work with the new circumstances. I hope you make the goal for a chair!
donation sent! good luck raising needed funds.
done! What wonderful people, both your aunt and uncle, and all the women who donated prizes. I hope he has a speedy and successful recovery.
My thoughts are with your family. It’s easy to feel helpless during a time like this, but what a creative and generous idea! Your aunt and uncle are lucky to have you in their lives. Thanks for the opportunity to help out, even if just a little bit.
Your aunt and uncle sound like they embody the best traits of compassion and charity. Here they are inspiring so many of us to be charitable as well!
If they need any special knitted items for comfort or health, just give a holler on Ravelry, ok?
I was touched by your story and happily am donating. Healing thoughts during this tough time
Rachel (naptimeknit)
Loving thoughts and prayers sent your family’s way.
uncle jan, i was born with spina bifida menegeomylocycle 62 years ago. i only went to a wheelchair ten years ago and that was because i got tired of my feet dangling all the time (i’m 4’8″). after my 3rd spinal surgery (1 to close my back and 2 tetered cords), i have been spending most of my time with my chair. it’s not as good as legs but, brother, sometimes it’s a hell of a lot faster than mine ever were! and it will help you keep up with your wife! that’s for sure! now listen i know you are going to get tired and angry and frustrated as anyone can get…that’s ok and you know it is to be expected…you’re a doctor already! you know that in your head…now it is time for you to learn that in your being! aunt shirley, i hope he is a lot better patient than my doctor dad ever was! i can tell you, he was a real pain in the butt! ok, are you ready for my medicine as a patient? LAUGH! at anything and every thing! read “heaven help us” by herbert tarr and his “the conversion of chaplin cohen”, probably not in print, but you might be able to find them on=line. if you can read any six pages without laugh out loud, you need a quick injection of the giggles! i’m serious! you both make sure you FIND something to laugh about AT LEAST TWICE a day!!! the blacker the mood, the harder you have to search! do not read and watch the news. pick one or the other. too much news is just too depressing! o, and accept all the love you can give one another and from all that want to give it to you both! and all the help others want to give…just like others gave it to you! DO NOT APOLOGIZE FOR BEING…just feel the love and say thank you like the gentleman your momma taught you to be. aunt shirley, when he is being a prickly pear, tell him “sandy said quit being a pain in the bu-tox” (the last was my great aunt’s pronuncation)! uncle jan, if you need a good moan and you think you fair lady has had enough, i an a good listener/reader! ;-}
sandy (puddle duck)
My dad was in a catastrophic bicycle accident last summer, and he is now a quadri/paraplegic (some use of his arms but not of his hands). We consider ourselves blessed that Dad doesn’t seem to have any cognitive loss. He and my mom spent the month of May at the Shepard Center – it’s a fine place.
Your Aunt & Uncle will need all the help and prayers they can get. I’m sending along my little bit of both. Bless you for organizing this raffle.
ps/as hard as it is for Uncle Jan, I send an extra prayer for Aunt Shirley, who has a 24 hour a day job from now on. The responsibility and work are awesome, and not in a good way.
Not only do you get the support from SO many people, but you get to start a new stash too!
Your Aunt and Uncle are phenomenal people….and their niece is following in their footsteps. Best wishes to all of you!
Good luck to all with the raffle – we’re all winners!
g3bgsT dmwyqorbhdwh
← Previous Comments