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Non-Profit knits alternative prosthetics for women who've had mastectomies

Heavy, uncomfortable, and expensive are just a few of the ways the knitters described traditional breast prosthetics.

If you've got a problem, Deanna Krausse says just ask a knitter for help.

"You put it out there for women knitters and they get it done," she said.

She led a group of 50 other women in Greeley Saturday morning knitting something special for breast cancer patients; Prosthetics for women who've undergone mastectomies.

"These actually feel like a real breast as opposed to the prosthetics that are out there that are real heavy," she said.

Heavy, uncomfortable, and expensive are just a few of the ways these knitters described traditional breast prosthetics. Some of them have gone through mastectomies and survived breast cancer themselves.

"It took on a new meaning for me," Gretchen Hofer said. She's a breast cancer survivor who's been to many of these knit-a-thons. "Something I can give back to women who are going through the cancer journey."

It's serious work they're doing, but the atmosphere is light. The name of the project lets everyone know it's ok to have fun while knitting.

"Knitted knockers, no, I know," Deanna said. "I didn't come up with the name, but I love the name."

Colorado Knitted Knockers really got its start while Deanna was recovering from her own breast cancer treatment.

"Big time, big time. It got me out of that depression. That depression was so big I couldn't see my way out of it," she said.

Her rehab nurse at UCHealth suggested she start knitting, and before long Deanna was writing a grant application from her hospital bed. The WISH (women investing in strategies for health) grant came through and Colorado Knitted Knockers hit the ground running with UCHealth as a major sponsor.

"It really saved my life, it got me out and got me with a purpose again," Deanna said.

If you've gone through a mastectomy and would like to order a free pair, you can go to their website, www.knittedknockers.org. You can also check out their Facebook page here.

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