If necessity is the mother of invention,
pandemic is the mother of innovation

INTRODUCTION

If a stitch in time saves nine, one can but wonder how many lives may have been saved by health care professionals Laura LeFevre, Christina Slade and Laura Snyder who went to extraordinary lengths and widths to sew face masks for those in need during the early weeks of the coronavirus pandemic.

When protective facial coverings became scarce as hen’s teeth nationwide at the start of the COVID-19 crisis, the LaMarco Physical Therapy co-workers began flexing their mental muscles. Applying the self-discipline and problem-solving skills that contribute to positive outcomes in PT settings, the trio resolved to find innovative ways to craft protective facial coverings in their respective home sewing rooms.

Between St. Patrick’s Day and Memorial Day, Physical Therapists Slade and Snyder along with Physical Therapist Assistant LeFevre had created a total of just over 100 masks. Made with love and safety in every stitch, the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) soon covered the noses and mouths not only of LaMarco Physical Therapy associates and patients but also those of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, nurses, friends, relatives and others in need.

It wasn’t until Ballston Spa Living interviewed Snyder in early July that some fascinating revelations were revealed about what was going on behind-the-scenes during the period when PPE supply shortages were making headlines. Who knew, for instance, that suitable sewing supplies had at times been harder to find than needles in haystacks with the result that some of the goods the Physical Therapists used to fashion their masks had materialized following searches of linen closets and dresser drawers. In the Snyder household, pillow cases, sheets, t-shirts and other quality attire matriarch Laura had previously planned on donating for consignment were transformed into face masks. A friend also gave Snyder some men’s button-down shirts to cut up while Laura LeFevre retrieved material she had at home from her other sewing projects. Seamstress Slade ultimately transformed fabric that was left over from when she made her now young adult son’s baby quilt. The latter occurred after suitable face mask fabrics at one point seemed harder to find than needles in haystacks.

Recalls Snyder: “We used pipe cleaners, plant wire and file folder metal fasteners to make the nose pieces. I watched some YouTube videos to get some ideas for patterns, as well as consulting the Joann Fabrics & Crafts website. We certainly aren’t professional seamstresses, but we made it work and had everybody covered. Ultimately, Laura L, Christina and I all made the same type of mask, with either elastic or strings for comfort, pleated on the sides with two or three layers of fabric.”

At one point early on in the pandemic, elastic was sold out, prompting some people used hair ties instead. Fortunately, Snyder soon discovered that if necessity is the mother of invention, a pandemic is the mother of innovation. It wasn’t long before she found a YouTube video on how to make mask fasteners using shirt yarn — a stretchy material, similar to elastic, made out of an old t-shirt.”I used that for all of the strings on my masks and replaced frayed elastic or too-tight- around- the -ears elastic for one of my patients with a larger size head. Laura L used her daughter’s unused blue stockings as elastic, worked great,” shares Snyder.

As word of the mask-making quest pioneered by LaMarco’s “stitch just in the nick of time” Physical Therapists began to spread, generous donations of additional masks crafted by quilter Gerry Havasy were soon forthcoming. The fact that LaMarco Office Manager Janice Waring Bradley’s sister owns Clare’s Embroidery proved to be an added blessing that resulted in quality masks being made for additional staff members. Another blessing was counted when Jo-Ann’s Fabrics & Crafts began donating mask-making kits to help supply front line workers who were short on PPE.

Although the early supply shortage had been no laughing matter, Snyder was occasionally in stitches months later when recalling some of her more light-hearted mask-making moments. “The first mask I made on a sewing machine I hadn’t touched in years took me all day. It was made out of an old pink tie-dyed pattern twin sheet I had. After much trial and error, as well as rusty skills at sewing, re-learning the parts of the sewing machine and general mask technique it was accomplished! First the elastic around the ears was way too tight, making my ears flop forward. Then the pleats were too big — covering my whole face. Finally, I sewed one mistakenly completely inside out, so (it was) back to the drawing board. Practice makes perfect. I decided to use the strings instead, to tie behind the head, after reading that many medical professionals had sore ears from the elastic bands.”

Ultimately, Snyder and Slade (who are also Healing Touch Certified Practitioners) made about 30 masks apiece while LeFevre made approximately 50.The results of their combined efforts were donated to their patients at LaMarco Physical Therapy as well as to the distribution drop off location at Cudney’s Cleaners. Other beneficiaries ranged from South High students to Christina’s hair stylist to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy to nurses to numerous relatives and friends.

“Laura LeFevre even supplied her local beer store and favorite cashier with a mask after his disposable mask had ripped,” recalls Snyder, adding: “One of my favorites was a mask made for my dear friend undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer- I used one of her t-shirts that said Good Vibes and she would wear it for treatment.”

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The following Q & A between LaMarco Physical Therapist Laura Snyder and Ballston Spa Living Editor sheds added light on some of the ways in which the coronavirus pandemic has impacted both her professional and personal life.

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Q: When did you first realize that some of the patients for whom PT sessions were an absolute necessity during the early days of the COVID-19 crisis had no way of securing protective facial coverings due to the shortages of them that then existed?

A: The realization was immediate, patients were unable to order disposable masks, and many had no idea how to sew, or knew anyone who would be able to make them a mask so we sprung into action!

Q:  If you were not the first to model your first home-made mask, what did your first mask look like? And where did you get it?

A: The very first masks were donated to us by Ashley Lapolla, wife of Mike Lapolla from Saratoga Health and Wellness Center to cover the therapists and office staff who were still working. Our Wilton satellite office of LaMarco Physical Therapy is located within the Saratoga Wellness Center. Unfortunately, the wellness center was closed like all gyms as of March 16 due to the pandemic. The first mask material looked like the solar system with planets and stars on them! Shortly afterward, we started making masks from our own supplies at home.

Q: You mentioned that your husband (a teacher) and sons (one a professional employed by the Mets; the other a college student) were also impacted by the State of Emergency that was declared by Governor Cuomo. Kindly elaborate on how school closures and The Big Apple becoming the pandemic’s epicenter impacted your lives. It would also be appreciated if you could shed some light on how COVID-19 has impacted your vocation as a healing touch practitioner. What do you miss most about The Old Normal at home? What do you miss most about The Old Normal at work? Any Silver Linings?

A: I think everyone has been affected in some way by the Pandemic. School closures affected my husband Rick (a teacher) and my college son, Kason, who both ended up at home, navigating on-line learning. My other son Garrett worked in NYC for the Mets. Unfortunately, all professional sports were postponed indefinitely. I continued working limited hours as an essential worker in Physical Therapy, but could not continue practicing Healing Touch due to NYS Phase restrictions. Blessings? Being home with my kids, my husband and cats, a lot less paperwork, completing long-standing home projects, starting my garden early, sitting in on my college son’s classes remotely, listening in on conference calls with the NY Mets with my other son, filming my husband making biology labs from home to teach his high school classes.

Q:  In addition to your careers at LaMarco Physical Therapy on Geyser Road in Ballston Spa, you and Christina Slade are also Healing Touch Certified Practitioners who share a private practice in the former Benedict Memorial Hospital complex at 61 Rowland Street in the village. How has the pandemic impacted this part of your lives?

A: Christina and I closed our Healing Touch office due to the Governor’s restrictions in March, hoping to open soon with Phase Three and all the proper precautions in place. Having the office closed for the past four months during a time of such stress and anxiety has been challenging for our clients without the treatments as well as those who have physical pain and chronic conditions. Both of us have conducted on-line healing sessions and I saw several clients virtually to teach them an immunity booster technique for self-care.

SPECIAL NOTE: Please CLICK HERE to read a feature article about Laura Snyder by Ann Hauprich that was published in the Spring 2020 edition of Saratoga Family/Healthy Saratoga.

Christina SladeCOVID-19Face MasksLaMarco Physical TherapyLaura LeFevreLaura Snyder