Yarn, Needles and Care Come Together To Wrap Patients in Comfort
Cancer treatment often involves long days and late nights when comfort becomes especially important.
Lauren Roth knows that firsthand.
In April 2024, she came to Moffitt Cancer Center after being diagnosed with metastatic melanoma of the small intestines.
“My Moffitt journey began with immediate surgery and a team that never once made me doubt we could get through this,” said Roth. “Now more than 20 months into treatment, my scans remain stable.”
As Roth moved through treatment at the cancer center, she paid attention to the small details of the patient experience, especially during long visits and late-night infusions.
“I feel truly blessed to have such a wonderful team at Moffitt, along with family, friends and neighbors who have supported me from the beginning,” she said. “During a nighttime visit to the infusion center, I noticed that clinical spaces are often kept cool and I realized patients could benefit from something as simple as a hat.”
Roth immediately thought of presenting this idea to the Senior Sassy Stitchers, a volunteer organization she was part of.
Founded in 2012 through the New Tampa Library, the group combines creativity and community service, making handcrafted items such as blankets, hats and scarves for local organizations. They eagerly joined Roth’s chemotherapy hat project in support of Moffitt.
So, when a large donation of high quality yarn arrived through Moffitt’s Patient Experience and Volunteer Services teams a few months later, the Senior Sassy Stitchers were entrusted with determining how it could best serve patients.
“I knew this yarn needed to go to a group that would truly honor it,” said Jane Freeman, patient flow coordinator at Moffitt.
The yarn donated by the cancer center was unlike anything the stitchers had worked with before.
The Senior Sassy Stitchers donated the handmade shawls to Moffitt patients during the 2025 holiday season.
“One cannot imagine our excitement,” said Roth. “It wasn’t ordinary yarn you’d find at a craft store. It was merino wool, alpaca, mohair, lambswool, English, Turkish and Japanese varieties. The colors and textures were exquisite.”
The group quickly realized the yarn was too fine for hats or blankets. Tucked inside the donated box were shawl patterns, and with that, an idea emerged: life shawls.
“These weren’t meant to define someone as a cancer patient,” Roth said. “They were meant to be worn going out to dinner, meeting friends or just around the house — something beautiful for living life beyond treatment.”
Beginning in October 2025, they took on the challenge of mastering intricate patterns and delicate yarns. In just two and a half months, the group completed 46 shawls, each one unique and carefully crafted. They personally delivered the shawls to patients during the 2025 holiday season.
“The reactions have been heartwarming,” Freeman said. “Surprise, gratitude, even tears. Patients are often stunned to learn the shawls are handmade and donated. Many describe them as boutique quality.”
Through yarn, needles and countless hours of dedication, the Senior Sassy Stitchers transformed generosity into something lasting.
When a patient wraps a shawl around their shoulders, warmth is only part of what they feel. It is a reminder that even during the longest days and latest nights of treatment, comfort, beauty and community can still be found.
