I was asked to make a special delivery this week to a man who I have come to know as Stacey.   Stacey Hanson is one of the Trolley Square survivors.  He was gravely injured that night after taking 4 shotgun blasts.

About a week ago I got a phone call from a man, an LDS missionary, who is working with inmates at the State Prison.  He said he had something for Stacey Hanson and wondered if I could get it to him.

He told me the story of the afghan.  It seems a group of inmates at the prison, some of them in for assault with a deadly weapon, had also heard of Stacey Hanson and Trolley Square.  They felt bad, he said, and wanted to do something for him.  So, they knitted him an afghan.  How nice.  NO...really ..it is very nice.  But, somehow a bit strange.

The missionary dropped the beautiful afghan in our lobby and I took it to the Hanson home along with a card and a letter.  Let me share with you some of that letter.

"Dear Stacey Hanson

 From those of  us who wanted to let you know we feel very bad about what has happened to you and the other victims.   So we want to make this blanket for you for those days you just need to feel warmth.  We see what our actions have done to others so we wanted to do something for you.  Each day brings a new challenge, and you have risen above and beyond.  Hope you recover soon."

The note was signed by 20 inmates and their guards.  Shane Connelley, Inmate #37166, is listed as the organizer.  #23999 Travis Telford did the crocheting and inmate Steve Carter, #23040 did the pretty card.

When I delivered it to Stacey Hanson he smiled and he said thanks.  He told me he was going to call the missionary and send his personal thanks.

I don't know how it felt to be shot.  I don't know how it feels to be paralyzed like Stacey Hanson is now because of the shooting and I don't know how it is going to feel when Stacey grabs that beautiful afghan and pulls it over him to keep warm. 

I wonder if he will think about the hands of the man who made it.  Or, the heart of the man who organized the effort.  The men who are trying to ease their pain and guilt by trying to do something nice for the victims of violence.