Making the quilt was a proactive response to an unpredictable condition. Visualizing my body in the purple flame helped me stay focused on healing myself, while cooperating with more conventional treatment. The quilt represents a blood vessel.
Platelets appear as yellow stars.
Anti-platelet antibodies are shown as strings of embroidered triangles. When enough platelets are destroyed, blood vessels leak, causing bruises, tiny red spots called peticheae, nosebleeds, internal bleeding, and other more serious problems. The leakage is shown as streams of red escaping on the bottom left. Purple flame is widely used to symbolize rebirth, renewal, or healing. My quilt shows the flame collecting the antibodies and the spilt blood.