Theme #34 Yarn - "23,000 Pieces Of Yarn"

Photo by Sharleen Benoit

 

To the average physically healthy person, hooking a rug is usually simple and the end result is quick. To one who has little use of his hands, pulling the small pieces of yarn evenly through the tiny squares, it must be an immense task and the canvas stretched out in front of him must seem endless.

 

After driving a tank for three years in Italy, France and the Netherlands during World War II, Canadian soldier (5th Division, 9th Armoured, British Columbia Dragoons) Clarence Smith contracted polio in 1953 during the polio epidemic while on vacation in Seattle. He was enjoying the warm beach water with his sister, happy to be away from work and relaxing with the family. Neither he nor his sister knew what lay ahead of them, what life had in store for them.

 

Within two days, each had flu-like symptoms. The doctor made a house call and told him it was not the flu but rather, poliomyelitis and Clarence was sent to hospital where he spent the rest of his life. It attacked his muscles and he became a quadriplegic. He was thirty-two years old with a young wife and two little boys*.

 

After spending a year in an iron lung, he was then able to breathe on his own but had to sleep in a rocking bed. He could do nothing for himself. Slowly, through physical therapy, he was able to sit up but do little else. His muscles became atrophied.

 

Twenty years after the onset of the disease... twenty years of physical therapy and determination, this yarn wall hanging, one of his greatest artistic achievements, was accomplished.

 

 

* One of these little boys grew up and is my husband Dave, a man very much like his Dad - determined, patient, giving and helpful to all. Clarence was my much loved father-in-law.

 

Photo by Sharleen, theme by Sue

 

Done