MAKING LAS VEGAS A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE

Women crochet afghans for cancer patients

By Beth Fisher

CREATED Jan. 9, 2013

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  • SPOTLIGHT: Women make afghans for cancer patients Video by ktnv.com

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Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- You ever meet those people you hope to be like when you grow up?  We recently met 3 women who spend their spare time crocheting afghans for cancer patients. But more than that, these women are all joy and they are definitely making Las Vegas a better place to live.

They tell jokes, they laugh about ex-husbands and the "50 Shades of Grey" triology, but Maggie, Mary Lou and Margaret also make blankets for people battling cancer in Southern Nevada.

Maggie Morgenstern says," They are my brothers and my sisters. Aren't they? I don't have to know them to know what they're going through. "

Maggie survived breast cancer 31 years ago. 81-year-old Mary Lou Everback lost her grandmother, her mother, and her aunt to cancer.  "This is a fitting tribute to my family and I'll just keep making them. This is my 201 afghan for the cancer patients. This one right here is the 201st one."

The women say chemo rooms are cold. They want to provide warmth and make patients feel loved. But should you ever get one of these afghans, you should know it was also made by women who love life and laugh a lot.

We asked Margaret Libutti how old she is.  She answered laughing, "70. Some days I'm younger than others."

Margaret taught Maggie to crochet years ago. Then the two of them saw a sign Mary Lou posted at the senior center asking for yarn donations.

Maggie remembers, "We called her and said, 'We're not giving up our yarn. But we'll make some afghans.' And it's been going on ever since."

Four years later, they could still use yarn. But if you want to donate, you'll have to reach them the old-fashioned way. "Oh no. We don't have email.  We're fighting the 21st century."

So, the ladies asked us to give out their phone number.  We aren't sure that's a good idea.  So if you want to donate yarn, just drop it by the TV Station here at 3355 S. Valley View Drive for Beth Fisher. Beth will deliver the yarn to the ladies for you.