Women knit prosthesis for breast cancer survivors

WEST SALEM, WI (WKBT) - At first glance, there's nothing out of the ordinary about a group of Wisconsin teachers knitting around a table.

But when those nearby look a bit closer, they see something they're not expecting.

Stuntebeck and her Friends Kathy Thompson and Terri Martinson are affiliated with a group called Knitted Knockers - an organization dedicated to crafting an alternative, lightweight prosthetics for women who have had mastectomies.

They knit them in all colors and sizes.

Knitted Knockers Affiliate Janice Stuntebeck says, “One woman whipped out prosthetics she had these are so heavy, I thought, oh knitted knockers are so much nicer than those.”

Stuntebeck delivers the prosthetics to medical facilities in the Wisconsin area, where cancer patients are offered the option to take the free prosthetics.

“It's okay to laugh and smile about it. There's always so much sadness associated with cancer. this can be a fun but useful thing for somebody,” added Medical Social Worker at the Mayo Clinic, Susan Newman.

Since 2013, Stuntebeck says she's delivered upward of 650 pairs and received dozens of appreciative cards in response, but one case was extra special.

Krista Beron had a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer in spring of 2016. Luckily, Beron is a former student of Stuntebeck's as well as a fellow teacher at West Salem Middle School.

Stuntebeck hooked Beron up with a pair of Knitted Knockers. For more information, visit https://www.knittedknockers.org/