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Romeoville Woman Creates Quilts for Children Fighting Cancer

In the spirit of giving, Romeoville woman is giving to children and teens fighting cancer by hand sewing snuggly blankets to benefit the Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest Foundation (POTCF).

 


The POTCF is a non-profit organization that provides comfort and distraction from painful procedures to children and teens diagnosed with cancer by providing a toy, gift or gift certificate in 45 hospitals nationwide. Colleen Kisel founded the organization in 1996 after her then seven-year-old son Martin had been diagnosed with leukemia in 1993. Ms. Kisel discovered that giving her son a toy after each procedure provided a calming distraction from his pain. Ms. Kisel noted that when children are diagnosed with cancer their world soon becomes filled with doctors, nurses, chemotherapy drugs, surgeries and seemingly endless painful procedures.

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The origin of Virginia's involvement with the Foundation can be traced back to the late 1990's, when her daughter-in-law Darlene Zitko first became a Foundation Board member. " I knew the Treasure Chest Foundation was a wonderful cause, and I wanted to give back," recalls Virginia, revealing a glimpse into her true nature.

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Amazingly, all of Virginia's quilts are created completely by hand, without benefit of an electric sewing machine. "I'm somewhat of a control freak, so I prefer the control I get from sewing these quilts by hand," she admits. Once a quilt has been started, work can progress anywhere and anytime. She'll frequently wake in the wee hours of the night and, if unable to drift back asleep, work past dawn into the new day to produce yet another masterpiece. There's never any downtime for Virginia- she often packs up her supplies and takes advantage of time spent waiting in a doctor's office to keep quilt production rolling along.

 

Mrs. Zitko's finished quilts end up in the Foundation's treasure chests where they are immediately appreciated by the children and teens enduring painful medical treatments. "I use both fleece and flannel for making the quilts," says Virginia. "The most important feature is that they have to be soft and fluffy, something nice for the young kids to cuddle up in and to help ease their pain."

 

To get an idea of just what Virginia's quilts mean to the youngsters served by the Foundation, one only has to hear comments like these from Teresa Ruiz of Plainfield, whose five-year-old son Emilio is battling leukemia. "My son loves the quilts Virginia has graciously made for him and other young cancer fighters. When he undergoes a procedure such as a blood draw, it's the warmth of these quilts and the kindness of those caring for him that make the moment a bit easier. Cancer treatment is tough enough for a small child, but with the quilts and support of the Foundation, these kids will conquer."

 


Ms. Kisel expressed her profound gratitude for Mrs. Zitko's blankets. "The Treasure Chest Foundation is especially grateful to Mrs. Zitko for her handicraft and donation of blankets" said Ms. Kisel. "I have witnessed first hand the nurses at the Children's Cancer Clinics open a drawer and hand the kids a scratchy sheet. Because of her generosity, our Nurses can now pass along a soft and snuggly hand made blanket."

 

Virginia who is over 80 years old, but you'd never know it from her boundless energy and healthy glow. If one could harness her positive attitude and compassion, we imagine worlds could be conquered, mountains climbed, and yes, thousands of young cancer patients could be comforted by her amazing handiwork. And that is exactly what is happening, thanks to her caring generosity and incredible talent. Virginia, a true unsung hero of the Treasure Chest Foundation.

 

If you would like further information about the Treasure Chest Foundation, please contact Colleen Kisel at 708-687-TOYS (8697) or visit the Foundation's web site at www.treasurechest.org.

 

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