Nestled on a comfortable, blue sofa at her home in Westlock, Connie Kieser surrounds herself with colorful woolen hats and a Wal-Mart-bought knitting loom. Her fingers deftly work through the pink and blue wool. She relaxes, showing no sign of any pain she might be in. Her mother sits in a nearby armchair watching her.
Despite issues with her own health, Connie has taken it upon herself to provide the less fortunate with the comfort of having a homemade wool hat for those chilly winter days.
It's something the 56-year-old has been doing for more than a decade.
In March, doctors told Connie she had cancer. Despite countless tests, they were unable to tell her what kind of cancer she had though, only that it had reached Stage 4, she said.
"It is what it is. Just not very good luck," Connie said shrugging. "It was too late for treatment."
She was given four months to live — six if she was lucky, said Edna Kieser, her mother.
But she doesn't let that stop her from doing what she loves.
She had been living in Edmonton at the time of her diagnosis, but decided to move back to Westlock to live with her mom.
"She made the decision on her own. She's very brave; she's a tough one," said Edna.
Connie lived in Edmonton for 12 years, she recalled, and during that time a friend taught her how to use a knitting loom to make hats.
Ever since then she's been hooked.
She said she is able to make an average of two hats per day, depending on how she's feeling, and has donated them to different organizations around the city, including Hope Mission.
"I once donated hats on Boyle St. in Edmonton, and that's a bad part of town. Luckily, nothing happened to me," Connie said.
She can knit a variety of hats in different shapes, colours and sizes. Her favourite type of wool to use is boucle wool, which she finds is easier to work with.
Connie also said she has attempted knitting and crochet in the past but discovered the knitting loom is more her style. It is not complicated to use, she said, and it lets her create hats for people who need them.
"I wish I could do a lot more, like make scarves and make gloves. All I can do are hats," she said.
With Connie's move to Westlock, she now distributes her woollen creations to many of those who use the food bank.
"I remember a lady came into the food bank once," Connie said. "I asked her if she needed a hat for the winter and she told me she's never had a winter hat before. She told me she had two daughters and I gave them each a hat. It makes me feel good. I get a good feeling when I give my hats away."
"It is how she passes time," Edna said. "If she can't sleep she'll do this. Sometimes I'll be watching TV, and she'll be there making hats."
Connie does not let her illness get in the way of her life and her desire to help others.
She plans to visit her sister soon in British Columbia, and is focusing on spending time with her family and loved ones. She will also continue making hats for the people who need them. She plans to start giving out the hats again once the weather gets colder.
