TRURO, N.S. — For Ellen Swan, the chance to help Australian wildlife was worth the blisters on her hands.
The Truro woman was at home, knitting nests, but because she’s affected by Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), materials like yarn can irritate her skin.
“The CRPS is a lot better than it was, and the blisters aren’t bad,” she said. “I wouldn’t have been able to do this a couple of years ago and I’m glad I’m able to be part of something bigger that’s doing something to help.
“When I see pictures and videos of what’s going on with the animals, it just breaks my heart. I can’t afford to send a lot of money, but I can knit – although not as fast, or for as long, as I used to.”
Knitting has also helped her regain function in her hands and retrain her brain. She was able to complete 15 nests.
“I would love to be able to do more, but if you do one, it’s one more than they had before. If 20 people each do one, that’s 20 more. It all adds up.
“We need to help because a lot of crafters living in Australia, who would normally be making these things, have lost their homes or are out rescuing animals.”
People from many areas have been knitting and crocheting nests, and sewing joey pouches and bat slings. Air Canada has agreed to send six cargo shipments to Australia free of charge.
Swan took the nests she’d knitted, and those made by a couple of other Truro-area women, to a drop-off site in Bedford. They were soon on their way to help Australian animals.
Driving to Bedford was also an achievement for her, as the vibrations from travelling once caused her terrible pain.
Swan’s CRPS was triggered by a fall nine years ago and, for several years, caused her to experience pain when she touched most things. She was so exhausted it would take a day to recover if she scrubbed a floor. She found spending time in a float tank, physiotherapy, and taking certain medication, very helpful.
She began regaining function in her hands by making jewelry, which she sold to raise money for her own float tank. She now sells her creations at shows and online through the Earrings by Ellen Facebook page.
Her goal last year was to be able to bicycle a short distance by Labour Day. Because regular footwear had caused pain for several years, she had to begin by simply getting used to wearing socks and sneakers. She got her bike ride in and has set a goal for the upcoming summer of biking downtown and back to her home on Brunswick Street.
She’s also going to continue knitting and will make nests for the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre.
“My grandmother taught me to knit when I was five and every time I knit I feel I’m connecting with her,” said Swan. “It’s really nice to have that and be able to help animals.”
The Canadian Animal Rescue Collective Craft Guild page at www.gofundme.com has been set up to help raise funds to transport supplies to locations where they’re needed across Australia.
The Canadian Animal Rescue Craft Guild is not asking for any more items at this time. Updates can be found on the group’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/659914731079141/
More information on the situation in Australia, and some of the animals being helped, can be found on the Port Stephens Koalas site at https://portstephenskoalas.com.au/
