Abby Nadeau
Community Editor

Every time Nathan had to stay overnight for a surgery to shave his tumors from a rare disease called Olliers, his mom Colleen made him a fleece blanket.

The blanket represented something soft from home that 12-year-old Nathan Riedeman could find comfort in.

After his fifth surgery, during a check-up appointment in June, Nathan had an idea.

ìI thought it would be a good idea to make blankets for the kids who have to stay overnight in the hospital,î Nathan said.

Colleen, who is a para-professional at Wyoming Elementary, agreed to making a few blankets to bring to Shriners hospital in the Twin Cities, but she enlisted some help from family, friends and her husband Brent.

Colleen sent out a letter with the hopes of maybe getting fabric or funds for 10 to 12 blankets, but she ended up receiving more replies than she or Nathan ever expected.

Olliers disease

Nathan was first diagnosed with Olliers at the age of 2.

Nathan had fallen and his dad Brent thought maybe he had broken a bone, but it turned out to be a bump from a benign tumor.

Olliers is a rare, non-genetic, disease that creates tumors on bones.

The disease is so rare that Colleen said the Shrinersí doctor only has three patients, Nathan, a person from Iowa and one from Nebraska.

While all the tumors have been non-cancerous so far, the disease can cause fractures, deformities and lots of pain.

Therefore, Nathan has to have several surgeries to shave down the tumors.

So far, Nathan has had five surgeries, two on his left hand, one on his right and two on his left foot, shaving down 24 tumors. With each surgery comes a long recovery in casts and physical therapy.

Besides his family being at his side, Nathan found comfort in the warm blankets during his stay in the sometimes cold hospital.

An overwhelming

response

In June, when Nathan decided he wanted to make the blankets for other kids, Colleen sent out a letter to family and friends asking for donations of money, time or fabric.

She asked people to return their donation as soon as possible so they could bring the blankets to Nathanís check-up appointment on July 12.

Then came the fabric.

Between the Minnesota Vikings, Finding Nemo, flower and sports patterns the blanket could appeal to children of all ages, girls or boys.

ìI saw fleece patterns in my sleep,î Nathan said laughing.

In a process that started out taking over two hours, soon turned into a fast half hour project.

Colleen explained that to make the no-sew blankets all that needs to be done is to lay two separate pieces of fleece fabric, about 1 to 2 yards in length, on each other so they match in length and width.

Then she said to cut 1-2 inch strips, 2 or 3 inches in length all along the outside of the blanket, cutting through both pieces of fabric.

She said that when the strips are all cut, keep the fabric where it is and tie the top layer of fabric to the bottom layer of fabric.

The Riedeman family spent most days measuring, cutting and tying the blankets and getting them ready to go to the hospital.

Each child would receive a blanket in a large plastic bag that had a note written by Nathan of why he was giving out the blanket.

By the time they were ready, the Riedemans cut and tied 32 blankets themselves and had 23 donated with a grand total of 55 blankets being donated.

On July 12, Nathan, Colleen and his brother Austin, 11, brought all the blankets down to the hospital and were able to hand out the blankets to six children.

ìThey were really happy,î Nathan said. ìSome of them were sleeping, but it was nice to bring them something.î

Since the Riedemans couldnít hand out all the blankets at once, they left the remaining blankets with Shriners.

ìWhen someone has a surgery or has a birthday, the hospital now has something to give to them,î Nathan said.

Although they arenít there when the blankets are given out, they know the hospital is handing them out.

ìWe received a ëthank youí from a little girl from South Dakota who had gotten a blanket,î Colleen said.

Although the Riedemans still have another three blankets left over to bring to the hospital, they are stopping the blanket production until next summer.

ìIt was a nice summer project, but itís time for a break,î Colleen said.

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Forest Lake Times
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Forest Lake, MN 55025
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