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Marble Falls Quilting Club creating relief for breast cancer patients

Marble Falls Quilting Club member Zell Cook works on an 'anti-ouch pouch' for breast cancer patients. Staff photo by Daniel Clifton

DANIEL CLIFTON • PICAYUNE EDITOR

MARBLE FALLS — The sewing machines buzz around the fellowship hall at First United Methodist Church. Women line up material and make precision stitches. Some hand-stitch fabric, while others work the irons.

Each worker, all members of the Marble Falls Quilt Club, keep on task — one that will benefit women who are battling breast cancer and have undergone a mastectomy or endured numerous radiation treatments. While quilting is in the club’s name, today’s efforts are for a different product: an anti-ouch pouch.

“It’s just a small pouch we sew together and put stuffing in that a woman can hold under her arm after her surgery,” organizer Meryl Seely said. “It’s not big, but it really can make a big difference in their comfort.”

The Marble Falls Quilt Club held a special anti-ouch pouch “bee” Sept. 17 after its regular monthly meeting in an effort to hit its goal of making 1,000 pouches for the Breast Cancer Resource Center in Austin. The center serves women across the Hill Country and the Highland Lakes.

“We’re a little behind on our goal, so that’s why were having the work day,” Seely said with a smile.

Members gathered around tables in the fellowship hall. Several worked sewing machines, while others cut fabric and ironed it.

Club member Debbie Gallagher explained that each of the members typically grabs an anti-ouch pouch kit after a meeting, takes them home and makes several. It’s a year-round process with hopes of alleviating the discomfort of breast cancer patients after surgery and other treatments.

“It provides them a little relief,” Gallagher said. “It’s just a way we can help out.”

And the relief isn’t just needed after surgery, Seely said.

“After 33 days of radiation treatments, you’re pretty sunburned, and it hurts when you have to put a seat belt across yourself,” she said. “So these help in many ways.”

Seely first became aware of anti-ouch pouches in 2008 after her own daughter found relief in one during her breast cancer treatments. Seely, a quilter, looked the pouches over and thought, “I can make these.”

The first year, she made 39 herself but then turned to the quilting club to see if anyone else was interested in helping.

“This lady right here,” she said, pointing to fellow club member Sue Kersey, “she held up her hand and said, ‘We’ll help you.’”

Within a few years, the club set a goal of making 1,000 pouches a year, and has hit that mark every year since.

“Sadly, (the resource center) could use probably twice as many,” Seely said.

But for those women who get the pouches, it means the difference between pain and comfort during their recovery process.

The quilt club meets the third Wednesday of the month at the church, 1101 Bluebonnet Drive. The meeting starts at 9:30 a.m. and usually includes a special program. Anyone interested in quilting — experienced and not — is invited to attend. Go to www.marblefallsquiltclub.blogspot.com for more information.

daniel@thepicayune.com