Hospital pyjamas
22 January 2009, 17:42As soon as I received the sheep fabric given to me by Brian and Sharon in the post, I knew I’d be making some comfy pyjamas from it in the form of Jalie 2686, which, you’ll remember, I’ve already made in purple silk for my friend Pip.
They’re not quite as luxurious as the silk, but they’ve still got a silky sheen to them, they’re super soft, and the one big advantage over silk is that I can throw these in the washing machine without fear.
I actually ended up staying more true to the pattern this time around than I did with Pip’s pair, though neither of us fancied the piping or the front pocket, as you can see.
I kept the waistband as intended in the pattern – cased elastic around the back and some long drawstrings in the front (Pip’s was all drawstring by her request).
This fabric was generally a breeze to sew – my best guess is that it’s a brushed poly-cotton with a bit of stretch thrown in – but when it came time to do the buttonholes, all hell broke loose. I had skipped stitches everywhere on top of thread snarls despite the placket being interfaced against such horribleness. So rather than beat my head against the machine (sewing is meant to be fun, right?) I ripped out the stitches and bought a pack of pearl snaps!
And actually, I think these will be much easier to get open and closed than buttons anyway, and frankly, they look much neater than the buttons I’d picked out of my stash, too.
So the “hospital” in the title… If you remember, back in late November I revealed a bit about my sudden health problems. Well, it’s all gone downhill rather fast over the past few weeks and it turns out that I will be needing a bone marrow transplant very soon now rather than the other treatment that was being considered (as my diagnosis was further refined to MDS which the other treatment won’t work on). The pre-prep involved in checking out each of my internal organs plus more tests to narrow down the potential donor pool will take three months, which means I’m looking at around April for the transplant itself. That’ll be at the very least 4-6 weeks in hospital* followed by several months of isolation until my immune system rebuilds itself with the new blood. I’m getting a taste now of what I’m able to do, sewing-wise, with an IV in my hands and arms, as I have to go in twice a week for transfusions until the transplant starts. I’m hoping to be able to do some embroidery and other handstitching while in hospital (since I’ll have a Hickman line installed in my chest so my hands will be needle-free), but until then, I’m focusing a lot of sewing up comfortable clothes that can be pyjamas or loungewear for when I’m feeling terrible. The good news is that I’m young, fit, and I’m being treated at the UK’s leading centre for bone marrow disorders (I got to see their dedicated bone marrow transplant unit on Wednesday and it’s very impressive), so the outlook is as good as it can possibly be.
They’re still checking to see if my brother is a suitable match for me, but it’s not looking terribly likely, so my saviour will most likely come from a worldwide search of all the various bone marrow registries. If you’d like to help out and add yourself to your local registry, you only need to fill out a form and get a sample of blood taken at your GP or clinic and that’s it. And if you end up being a match for someone, then your immune system will be completely back to normal in three weeks (it’s not like donating a kidney or something where you’re missing something for the rest of your life, for instance). Please go here in the USA or here in the UK to get yourself on the list.
The bright side of all this is that the timing means I’ll be able to have a big party to celebrate my 30th birthday at the end of March afterall. With my weight likely to fluctuate all over the place, I don’t want to start work on my wedding gown until the last possible moment, but at least I can sew a posh birthday dress in the meantime!
Thank you, Brian and Sharon!
* If you really want to ruin your day, have a read of what’s involved in a transplant. Let’s just say it starts with a super-concentrated dose of chemo and gets worse from there.
Tags: hospital, jalie, lingerie
Great looking jammies!
I have thrombocytopenia and a B12 deficiency, so I thought prednisone or some crazy hemoglobin transfusions were what you were up against on your first mention of this. Even though I’ve had a bone marrow biopsy, I got light headed when I read about the Hickman Line. It’s good to know that you have a good medical team in place.
Have you considered taking up knitting or crochetting for when you are isolated and chained to a bed?
— Grace Jan 22, 06:55 PM #
Melissa, how sad that your illness is getting worse so quickly. But I’m happy to know that you are in the best medical hands. A very good friend of mine got a bone marrow transplant 15 years ago. It was tough, but it ended all for the good. Certainly medical techniques and insights have enormously improved since then too, which is good too. I’m sending you good thoughts and well wishes.
— Sigrid Jan 22, 07:02 PM #
Melissa , I’m so sorry to hear about your illness . You will get through this honey . I wish you all the best and I will keep you in my prayers xx
— Lisa P Jan 22, 07:31 PM #
Wow, that’s a lot to deal with both physically and mentally. I’m so glad you’re able to visit the bone marrow experts for your care. Keep us posted.
BTW – your google ads box is bringing up links for both “sexy sleepwear” and “kidney transplants” LOL
— Christina Jan 22, 08:16 PM #
Oh, that some is some heavy stuff, hope everything goes well. Glad to hear that you’ll be in good hands. All my best wishes to you!
P.S Love the pajama. It looks incredible comfy
— Johanna Lu Jan 22, 09:18 PM #
Sending the very best of wishes your way Melissa. And perhaps sending marrow your way, as I’m on the registry and since a fanaticism for sewing goes all the way to the bone maybe there’s a chance we’ll match. Love the jammies, too!!
— Leslie in Austin Jan 22, 09:50 PM #
Well Melissa my thoughts are with you. I’m glad you are so young and in good shape; you will beat this. Having good-looking jammies helps.
— Lindsay T Jan 22, 10:22 PM #
I am so sorry about your illness. You seem to be facing a difficult time with grace and positive thinking. My thoughts are with you. Pretty, comfy clothes are sure to be a great help and your pj’s are adorable.
— Nancy K Jan 22, 10:27 PM #
Wow — that was fast work of the sheep! I just finished making a pair of flannel pajamas (with sheep) after starting in October, possibly even September… I’m not sure if this counts as my second or third project — I made a tablecloth the day before Thanksgiving.
We are thinking about you a lot! Brian is in the registry now, and I will be joining shortly!
— Sharon Jan 22, 11:11 PM #
We’re still keeping you in our thoughts and prayers. You in those pjs are too cute!
— Daisy Jan 22, 11:18 PM #
Lots of love and continued prayers. Got the overlocker and a box of attachments – all sorts of things. I would really love the link to your boat blog. Winifred
— Winifred Fry Jan 23, 12:34 AM #
The pj’s are cute and the snaps work really well.
Sorry to hear you need to start all those treatments but your attitude sounds great so I know you will be alright. Look after yourself!
— Sue Jan 23, 07:51 AM #
Fantastic pj’s! But I’m so sorry to hear about the circumstances for which you’ve made them. It sounds like you will be in very safe hands, but it’s a hell of a lot to go through, particularly for someone like youself who is always so busy (I’ve never quite worked out how you manage everything!). Take care of yourself x
— Cassie Jan 23, 09:27 AM #
Wow — I send you my best wishes and hopes for a speedy recovery. I hope you are able to blog through this whole thing; I really enjoy reading your blog and would miss you.
— deirdre Jan 23, 02:55 PM #
Oh, Melissa, I feel like such an A$$ for making a big deal about eating bone marrow now! I’m so sorry to hear about what you’re having to go through. My mom had a stem cell transplant (basically exactly like a bone marrow transplant, except they harvest your own stem cells, store them, and then put them back in your body after the chemotherapy) several years ago for breast cancer. It was definitely not fun, though she did have a full recovery. I wish you all the best through this difficult time, and I’ll be thinking of you as you embark on your treatment. Best of luck and take care of yourself.
— EmilyD Jan 23, 03:52 PM #
Keeping you in my thoughts as you go through these difficult times. It’s encouraging to hear that you are getting the best medical treatment available.
Nice jammies too – sheep are the BEST!
— luckylibbet Jan 23, 05:46 PM #
Dang, Melissa. That’s heavy. I’m sorry the diagnosis is worse that we had hoped. Keep being a tough cookie in fabulous pjs. We’ll be thinking of you.
— The Slapdash Sewist Jan 23, 06:37 PM #
I’ve spend a lot of time in hematology wards for the last three years, because of my dad’s health problem. I met a lot of patients and heard all kinds of diferent stories. I understand how nasty chemotherapy can be and you should remind yourself everyday to be as strong and optimistic as you’re now. Because you <b>will</b> get over it.
People wear boring things at the hospital. You’re likely to receive the most compliments for your pajamas there :)
— Cristina Jan 23, 07:26 PM #
Oh, Melissa! I am so sorry that the diagnosis had to take this direction. Kudos on being so positive – and on making such great pyjamas.
I know you have lots of friends who love you, and take care of you; but if there’s anything you might need from a fellow sewing junkie who lives in your city, do give me a shout.
See you tomorrow! :)
— Isabelle Jan 23, 07:27 PM #
Oh, Melissa, I’m so sorry to learn that you’re facing this difficult next step. Best wishes during the next few months and beyond — lots of us will be thinking of you.
I would never have thought of using pearl snaps on your sheep PJs — so cute, and much nicer than buttons!
— Noile Jan 24, 12:25 AM #
Hi Melissa, I hadn’t read your earlier blog post, so was sorry to hear you’ve not been well. I’ll be sending sunny positive thoughts your way from dOWN uNDER in Australia and hoping you can get back to the sewing you love soon. The pj’s r gr8 and will get lots of admiring comments I’m sure. Take care :-)
— Sandra Jan 24, 05:26 AM #
I wish you a very speedy recovery. You are in mine and my daughter’s prayers. Love the jammies too!! I will be on the bone marrow registry very shortly too. I go in monday for testing. Take care
kelly
— Kelly Grubaugh Jan 24, 06:44 AM #
Thinking of you… peace, light and positive energy :)
— E Jan 24, 02:39 PM #
Hello Melissa, I’ve never written you but have been reading your blog for a long time now and I want to wish you a lot of health. You are the kind of a person who gives out a good energy even when you write about such difficult things. Good Luck!
— solas Jan 24, 04:50 PM #
I’ll be sending you positive energy from way over here. You really will be the best dressed at the hospital.
— loopylulu Jan 24, 05:48 PM #
I love those pyjamas but am so sorry about the reasn for them. I admire your positive attitude and hope you will be really well looked after. I enjoyed meeting you at the V and A a year ago and shall be thinking of you all the more for having met you. Every good wish
— Anne Frances Jan 24, 09:38 PM #
They are just the cutest pyjamas! Cheerful and comfy! May your wonderful attitude and great focus get you well as quick as possible. Good luck. Natasha
— Natasha Jan 24, 11:56 PM #
Good luck. I almost feel like I know you because of your blog. Please take care of your self. If you like to read I have a ton of suggestions while you recover. We’ll miss your blogs.
— Karen Morrison Jan 26, 12:42 AM #
I love the pajamas – I think you’ll be so cozy in them. Good luck with the treatments, I’ll be thinking of you – keep us posted on how you’re doing.
— stacy Jan 26, 02:13 AM #
Oh, real bummer… I hope that it goes as well as possible in the end, but I’m afraid you’re right about feeling horrible for a while.
I like your drawstring approach, it’s totally true your weight will likely fluctuate a lot, and you don’t need to feel like hell because you’re forced into hospital pjs because your elastic is too big.
Might I also suggest some sort of ipod pocket? If you end up with a football-loving roomate (don’t ask..) it’s very nice to be able to block out the noise, and you might find that radio is a better method of not feeling totally out of touch. But then more dangling wires aren’t great, and something you leave in plain view might disappear quickly, so a nice inside pocket with velcro closing, and a hole for the plug, would be just the ticket.
Some sort of very soft turban thing would be good too, not just if your hair falls out but for when it’s filthy and you can’t drag yourself to the shower.. Do the Simone de Beauvoir thing.
Also, sewing might be a bit much at times, if you know how to knit at all you might consider a nice garter-stitch scarf as an alternative for those addled moments.
Anyway, we’ll all be thinking of you…
— Marie-Christine Jan 26, 06:29 PM #
Melissa, just caught up on your blog and saw this post. Good luck with all of your health issues; you can tell that all of us will be rooting for you. My mom had an (autologous) bone marrow transplant for breast cancer a few years ago, and it was a total pain in the butt, but she’s around and kicking because of it. Best of luck.
— Laura Jan 29, 01:42 AM #
Cute PJs!
I wish you all the best and hope you find a match really soon! (((HUGS)))
— Tany Feb 1, 11:33 PM #
Trying to do some blog catching up and had missed you were ill. I am sending lots of positive thoughts your way, I hope your treatment goes well and you have a match very soon. Beautiful pj’s too – you’ll be the best dressed in the hospital for sure!
— MelissaB Feb 8, 03:43 AM #
Oh, that stinks. But you are a clever one figuring you can get in some more sewing time. I just checked on the donor information here in the US, since it sounds like a terrific idea and I’m up for doing it. It seems that I may be ruled out due to medication I take for asthma…BUT I’m going to check to be sure before I give up. If you know of other resources, email me. GOOD luck!
— Annie Feb 21, 12:20 AM #