Judy Alderson was in the medical field her entire life.  She worked as an ER nurse in a tough St. Louis hospital for many years, then went into the field of home health nursing and finally traded in the everyday stethoscope job for, as she referred to it, her “high heel and lipstick job” as a director and administrator.  Judy was and still is very well known in the St. Louis Medical community.

In 1999 she was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of Breast Cancer, it has been said she shouldn’t have made it through that year.  Since she knew many Doctors, she found out that one of the Doctors who interned under her for his ER rotation was now the leading authority on Breast Cancer research in the country and possibly the world.  He wanted to see her the same day when she called.   His treatment protocol gave her the rest of her years with us.  Although she battled very hard, the cancer came back 2 more times and finally won on September 14th 2006. She was 56 years old.

After her passing, we were struggling with the early loss of Judy and decided that we wanted to do something to keep her name alive by helping others, just as she always did.

During her last battle with breast cancer, she was cold all the time.  So a family friend made her this bright pink personal sized blanket called a “Quillow”.  This was a fantastic gift, it kept her warm during chemo treatments and brightened up the infusion room, she never went to the hospital or infusion center without it again.   

We remembered that there wasn’t a chemo treatment or hospital stay that someone did not ask us where we got the blanket, how much it was and where they could get one.  After remembering this, it was decided that we would somehow have these made and give them to cancer patients going through chemo.  We discussed the idea with our accountant and it was suggested that we start a 501C3 not-for- profit-corporation so other people could help us and maybe we could really make a difference by brightening peoples day when they are at their lowest.

There are many foundations that are dedicated to research, which is necessary and great.  However, there is very few that focus on an individual who is currently fighting the disease.

The Judy Alderson Foundation provides “Quillows of Hope” at no charge to cancer patients fighting the disease.  All funds raised go directly to the production of Quillows.  All of the quillows are currently assembled by quilters and sewers all over including a large amount of cancer survivors. 

Thank you for your time and for your interest in learning a little about who Judy was

Sincerely,

The Judy Alderson Foundation board of directors