By admin 
TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – A Tucson woman has handmade more than 1,100 capes for children and adults fighting cancer to wear during chemotherapy treatments, after surviving her own cancer diagnosis.
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In 2019, Terry Kelly was diagnosed with stage 2 anal cancer in 2019 at age 62.
“It was clearly out of the blue, didn’t see it coming at all,” Kelly said. “I was told I had an 80% chance of beating it because it was anal cancer stage 2, but your mind wants to play the game of ‘somebody’s gotta be in that 20%,’” Kelly said.
Kelly said she had family and friends supporting her during treatment, but the diagnosis was still hers to carry. A friend gave Kelly a basket of items to take with her during chemotherapy and radiation, including a shawl.
Kelly beat cancer but two weeks after she got the all clear, her mother was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.
“Here I’m happy for me and sad for her. She and I talked about that and she said ‘honey I’m 80 years old, I’m happy you’re the one who’s making it through this,’” Kelly said.
Kelly’s mother died three months later. About a year later, Kelly looked at the shawl she had been given during treatment.
“I looked at it and thought, I could make these,” Kelly said.
Kelly began making capes for kids, teens and adults using her mother’s sewing machine and serger. Each cape is finished with a brooch, a ribbon and an unsigned note.
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“Probably 9 out of 10 times I don’t know who they go to and that’s okay,” Kelly said.
Kelly said her work has inspired others to give back.
“I’ve given, empowered the child that’s 12 to have a stack of them and give them out to her buddies,” Kelly said. “Cards, presents, calls, text messages, you name it. I always knew I was loved but I didn’t realize the depth until that, so now I wanna give back,” Kelly said.
More than 100 of Kelly’s capes were given out this past weekend at CureFest in Washington, D.C.
Kelly also mentors other patients through Cancer Hope Network and hopes to partner with local hospitals to make more capes. She is also looking for fabric donations. You can reach her at [email protected].
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