Embrace: Bottles of Hope

Every time I have been up to the Roger Maris Cancer Center, I have seen this cute little bottle display on the wall. Although I have adored it from afar, I don't think I've ever stopped by and figured out what they were because it's down the hall where the nurses come to pick you up for your appointment. By the time you've spent your fair share of time in the waiting room and the nurse finally calls you back and weighs you, looking at clay bottles (despite how cute they are) on the wall isn't you're priority.  Until... today! I was actually checking in for my 10th Herceptin drip when they had a little promotion for them on the check-in desk. I read it and it sparked my interest. The nurse told me that I was welcome to pick one out. What? You mean I get to have one???? Holy cow! Awesome! Add that to my list of Cancer perks!!! LOL

Bottles of Hope are glass medicine bottles decorated with polymer clay and given to cancer patients as a sign of hope and comfort. You can join us in making and giving these bottles to Sanford cancer patients. It’s easy and everyone is welcome!

Bottles of Hope – Join Us in Inspiring Cancer Patients

The Bottles of Hope project was started in 1999 by Diane Gregoire, a cancer survivor and polymer clay artist in Rhode Island. It has since spread internationally and is a meaningful, easy way to help bring comfort and hope to patients as they undergo cancer therapy.
“I was actually getting a chemo treatment at the Woman and Infant's Breast Health Center and playing with my clay. On the days of getting TAXOL I was there for 6 to 7 hours every week, and I noticed that the nurses threw away tons of small, glass medication bottles,” Diane writes on her website. “After making sure they were non-toxic, I took some home, covered them with clay and made tops for them. When I brought them back in for the nurses, they loved them and so did some of the patients who saw me making them. They seemed fascinated with the clay and the colors, and for a while, they made people forget where they were. I started giving them away to the friends I had made at the center and called them "Wish Bottles."
Diane had no idea how a simple act would inspire thousands of patients around the world, including patients at the Sanford Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo and the Sanford Cancer Center in Sioux Falls.
“I told my friends to just make a wish, write it down and put it in the bottle, and it would come true. I don't know why, but we all just believed this... maybe because we just wanted to, or that it was something to hold on to. It brought together - for one moment - women sharing pain without having to speak about it,” Diane writes.
The bottles are cleaned, covered with clay and can be sculpted, textured, blended or stamped to create unique pieces of art. Then they are baked and can be painted. Each bottle is an individual expression of hope and love and are gifted to Sanford patients. Cancer patients can also make Bottles of Hope for themselves and others.
To learn more about how you can participate, call (605) 328-6050 or (701) 234-7587.

I was so excited to pick one! Let me tell you though. It's not as easy as it sounds. There are so many to choose from. I spent my entire time until the nurse came to get me trying to pick one out. Even then I decided to think about it and choose one after my appointment. Seriously- I could have taken 4 or 5 home if they would have let me! There was some really fun red ones- cuz RED is my favorite color, you know. There was some ones that I thought would look good in my china hutch in the front room. There were some red, white and blue ones.... do I need to say why those would be great?? LOL Some had the cutest HOPE word stamped on them. And a couple had some pink on them but non that called my name. Decisions. Decisions.

So after picking up tons of them, this is the one I choose. I love it because it looks like the bottle is being all wrapped up in a cozy blanket. Something every Cancer patient needs! ;) Second, it was the only one that had a few "fancy" things added to it. [even if they are just tiny beads] That's so me-- take the idea and add a little flare. Luv it! Finally, it's a beautiful rainbow. Fitting for my wish! I HOPE it serves as a reminder that THIS (cancer) won't ever happen again! ;) I LOVE it!!!! Thanks you, Embrace!