My name is Steph Kennelly. I am 37 years old and currently healing with breast cancer. I am preparing for 12 weeks of chemotherapy.
For something to think about, besides cancer, I have decided to collect head coverings!
Step 1: Find a hat or scarf in your closet.
Step 2: Look through your iCloud and find a photograph of yourself wearing said head covering.
Step 3: Write a sentence or two about the head covering.
Step 4: Send all three items (head covering, photo, sentences) to Steph!
Thank you and enjoy the stories!
(email stephanie.kennelly@gmail.com for my address)
I got one of me wearing the banana. I’m not a cancer survivor, but I’ve survived other traumatic things. 💕 I teach group fitness. When I put on the bandana I go into my alter-ego, who is kinda a badass.
I am a 911 dispatcher for my real job. I started this mission in 2012 just as a pay it forward mission in life after they found cancer in my female organs. It was fortunately caught early and all I needed to have done was a hysterectomy. I wanted to crochet hats that were ones that you would want to wear, that are fun and in style. — Melissa Blazek
This hat was my go-to, cozy, comfy hat while going through breast cancer treatments. It’s so soft, and wearing it made me feel “not so bald” because it was pretty and feminine. I wore this to the hospital for my bilateral mastectomy, to my final round of chemo, and on the day I found out from my surgeon that I was cancer free! This hat got a lot of love, a lot of use, and I am thrilled to pass it on to another strong, positive woman. May it make you feel “not so bald” too! — Sara Boyce
Ohhhhhh the Packers! — Alyssa Meyer
My Aunt Rosie had a long battle with breast cancer. She always had a cute head covering with a beautiful broach! As a teenager, I loved looking through her collection of brooches. Rosie was a strong woman with the best hugs and a good laugh. I hope you enjoy these and find her strength! — Heather Markert
This was a hate my mom when she was going through cancer treatment in 2003. It was my favorite hat of hers. I thought it looked soft and warm. Remember when she died, she was cancer free! So, I think it is also a warrior hat. — Julia Carlson
The head wear from me, specifically the bucking horse bandana, has been through a lot of hard work, passion, sweat, loss, travel, and joy with me. When you wear a shako (fun feather topped band hat) they don’t fit your head well and have no absorbent properties. SO, wearing a sweat band or bandana underneath is very helpful. When I played on the sousaphone line, we couldn’t wear shakos so we just had matching baseball caps. When I joined the drum line, I got to start wearing a shako and this bandana is the one I wore under for every game for three years. I hope it is there to keep you from “sweating” through this time, and beyond!! I thought of this bandana for you because of your family’s love for Gopher Football and Grant being the youngest person I’ve met who could spell MINNESOTA because of the rouser. I have vivid memories of my family driving to and from UWYO football games and is singing Ragtime Cowboy Joe and that is when I learned to spell COWBOYS. Go POKES! — Kelsey Lawrence
This is my happy hat! It reminds me of warm summer breezes in and the sun shining down on me. Wehter it’s an outdoor concert, craft beer fest, boat ride, backyard BBQ, family gathering, or just a quiet moment on a dock- this hat has shared some of the simple pleasures in life that hold some of the fondest memories! Enjoy wearing my hat and BE HAPPY! — Sharon Caldwell
This pussy hat was made by Eva Kaustiner- a retiree of General Mills and a deeply talented quilter, seamstress, and knitter. The hat went with me and two friends (Jennie Berglund and Amy Gibson) to Washington DC in January 2017 as we preapred to particiapte in the Women’s March on the 21st- the day after Trump’s inauguration. It was deeply powerful day filled with great speakers, camaraderie, and shouts for justice. I am proud to have had a teeny-tiny role in the day and share the hat with you to share the power with you. I’m with you- alone with the countless other women- when you wear this hat. With peace, love, and justice. — Rebecca Gierok
The first timeI saw Millie Lacs was about 5 years ago. I could not believe the size of it! I grew up near Lake Michigan. Now that’s a big lake! But Mille Lacs was a complete surprise. My brother took me out on that huge, choppy lake and I caught a very decent size small mouth in my lucky hat. — Deb Flynn
I would like to give you this hat. It has kept me warm on those cold game nights when I would watch Josh play football, I have never been the Mom that adorned herself with the school team swag. I am the Mom that quietly sits and watches her children’s sports while their father yells and screams. However, this year I really got into it. I loved wearing the school colors and yelling from the sidelines as I watched the game. This hat reminds me how important family is and how important it is to show up for your children’s events and cheer them on. To be the mother that screams for the team and cheers on her son even though she is scared inside that he may get hurt. May you wear this hat as you sit on the sidelines and watch Grant and Jude and in every phase of their lives. — Kathy Flaminio
Go Gophers, such great fun at the football games. Can’t wait to go back to football games! -Heidi Kennelly
One of the things I did right after I found out I needed chemo and would lose my hair, was to buy a shit-ton of hats…beanies in particular. I’d tuck my hair up to see how “terrible” I’d look. I gotta say, I rocked those beanies well. This one was a favorite because it was soft and kept my noggin just the right temperature. -Emily Strong
I love to craft. I like to reduce, reuse, recycle. This year I made 48 snowmen from one large thrifted white, fluffy blanket and some old/thrifted sweaters. Yours is gift #43. Since I made the snowmen hats, I decided to try my first ever human hat. It turned out quite well! -Betsy Olson
