Calkins: It was just an unfinished knitting project. Here’s why it brought them to tears.
Debbie Duncan (left) and Lisa Hiatt-Todd at West Cancer Clinic's Germantown location Nov. 19, 2025. (Patrick Lantrip/The Daily Memphian)
Geoff Calkins
Geoff Calkins has been chronicling Memphis and Memphis sports for more than two decades. He is host of "The Geoff Calkins Show" from 9-11 a.m. M-F on 92.9 FM. Calkins has been named the best sports columnist in the country five times by the Associated Press sports editors, but still figures his best columns are about the people who make Memphis what it is.
The shawl was pink.
Kate Hiatt promised her daughter, Lisa Hiatt-Todd, that she would knit her a shawl for cold days.
Hiatt was a splendid knitter. She could knit anything. But she got particular joy out of knitting shawls for patients at West Cancer Center, where Hiatt-Todd is director of laboratory services.
“My father used to tease her,” said Hiatt-Todd. “When she was really focused on her knitting, her toes would get going. They laughed about that.”
This is an excerpt of this story. To read more, please click here and subscribe.
Topics
knitting Lisa HIatt-Todd volunteers Geoff Calkins West Cancer Center Subscriber OnlyWill you help us reach more Memphians with quality, in-depth local news?
You know the value of having unlimited access to The Daily Memphian’s news. When you subscribe, you get full access to our news. But when you donate, you help us reach all Memphians.
Pay it forward. Make a fully tax-deductible donation to The Daily Memphian today.
Thank you for reading the local news. Thank you for investing in our community.
Geoff Calkins on demand
Never miss an article. Sign up to receive Geoff Calkins' stories as they’re published.
Enter your e-mail address
Related stories
West Cancer Center expands wellness division
West Cancer Center & Research Institute has acquired Lifesigns, a Memphis-area clinic offering exams such as hearing, blood work, EKGs, X-rays, ultrasounds and stress tests.
New beauty boutique offers no-cost wigs to cancer patients
The West Cancer Foundation has provided free wigs since 2020, but it recently added a dedicated space where cancer patients can try on a variety of styles in a private, salon-type setting.
Calkins: Stage four lung cancer can’t keep Joye Lee-McNelis from coaching (and winning!) 1,000th game
It may be the best story of this basketball postseason. And one of the hardest stories, too. The former Memphis women’s basketball coach went to astonishing lengths to be with her Southern Miss team through it all.
Comments
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.