This all began after my oldest sister, Vanieta, passed away on January 13, 2012, following a basically simple surgical procedure. My sister was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes as an adult, and was in complete kidney failure requiring dialysis. A few hours after surgery she just stopped breathing and was placed on life support. She had made her wishes clear to her family, that she did not want to be kept alive that way should anything ever happen.
Even though you know it is the right thing to do, and you know that you are honoring her wishes, it is still a very difficult thing to be a part of. I was devastated, to say the least. She and I were very close, and even now, years later, it is still very hard for me to talk about her without crying.
After returning home I spent the next few days pretty much just going from my bed to my recliner and then back to bed. I just could not function, could not think, did not want to think about how my life had changed. I knew a big part was missing, one that would never be replaced, and I had no idea how I was going to deal with the loss, or how I was going to understand and accept the loss.
I eventually made it from my house out to my quilting studio where the healing process started. I still could not do much more than just sit, think, and cry. It was during the early days of healing that I started to think about doing the charity quilts. I thought that I needed to do something to keep her memory alive, and to honor what a wonderful person she had been.
Vanieta was the type of person who was always willing to watch out for and take care of those who could not defend themselves, or speak up for themselves, both two legged and furry four legged ones as well. She was very passionate and very determined, and I admired her for that.
I realize now that it was not so much about keeping her memory alive, and honoring her, but that I needed to have something good come from her passing. It was from that deep sense of loss and extreme grief that the VL Batman Project began. Something good did come from my loss, and it came from deep in my heart.
My hope is that when someone receives one of the VL Batman Project quilts it will bring them comfort, and hope. I want them to know that someone cares about what they are going through, even if it is a stranger.
Every time my sister stood up for those who could not defend, or speak up for themselves she was sending them the message that someone cared. That truly is the main purpose of this project. It is a way of reaching out to those who just need to feel like someone, anyone, cares about what they are going through. I pray that each quilt given will provide comfort, warmth, strength, hope, and a sense of peace.
Where did the name come from? VL Batman? Well, those are her initials (VL), and Batman is (was) her last name, and no, I am not kidding. True story.
The VLBatmanProject is a 5013c non profit.