How does one live while also preparing to die? For Kelly Fanning the answer involved a skill perfected by her grandmothers-quilting. So during the most difficult time of her life, while battling metastatic cancer, Kelly began piecing together colorful fabric into quilts for those she loved. Along the way, she recorded her observations-lessons in bravery, perseverance, and mindfulness-in her blog, Quilting Cancer. The result was a patchwork of wisdom, as vibrant and beautiful as one of her quilts. The blog, along with essays reflecting on Kelly's bravery, are reprinted here, a reminder of how everyday heroes surround us, threading their way throughout humanity.