Doris Lemons is crafting a gift for her infant grandsons.

Instead of a quilt or cross-stitched sampler, Lemons is writing her life story for the twin boys, born in Florida in July.

Lemons, 55, was diagnosed in 2005 with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — or Lou Gehrig's disease — a progressive, fatal, neurodegenerative disease that thwarts voluntary muscle movement.

As a patient of the Visiting Nurses Association Hospice program, Lemons is giving another gift: She is the first to participate in the agency's Legacy program, and her participation is allowing the agency to create a template for training volunteers who will draft the legacies of other patients.

"She agreed to let us use this as a pilot project," said hospice volunteer Claire Schmieler of Marion Township, who began working with Lemons in late July.

Although Schmieler is helping Lemons by drafting the written work, another volunteer is making a scrapbook.

As part of the project, Schmieler pays a weekly visit to Lemons' cozy Meridian home. The atmosphere there — complete with dogs and a picket fence — helps Schmieler understand Lemons, who she laughingly describes as "crazy."

Examples come from conversations and many old photographs Lemons has shared. One in particular, now in the scrapbook, depicts Lemons and her son Tracey sticking out their tongues in a photo kiosk.

His twin sons, Caleb and Connor, were Lemons' motivation for doing the project.

"That's why this project is so good for her," Schmieler noted.

"She's faced with knowing her lifeline isn't real long."

Although the legacy book encapsulates much of Lemons' life, part of the text includes personal messages to Caleb and Connor.

"I value life because we only get one," Lemons writes in the booklet, which will be duplicated for the boys. "So make yours all you can for yourself.

"As being your Grandmom, I feel I know your Mom and Dad really (well). I love you so much. I want you to know you can go to them anytime you need them. Whenever you have problems, never hesitate to trust your parents for their advice. Oh, how I wish I could be there for you when you grow up."

The story, about 20 single-spaced pages, includes information on Lemons' family tree, childhood, adult life and health.

When her mother was killed by a drunken driver at age 34, Lemons describes her father's distraught state and her subsequent time at the English Lutheran Home in Zelienople, along with some of her six siblings.

"Doris has a wonderful family," said Schmieler, who has come to know relatives during her visits.

"My family has helped me a lot," Lemons said.

Although the VNA originally imagined the stories as biographies, Schmieler quickly realized the need for flexibility as Lemons added a personal tone.

"It started out in my voice with some quotations from Doris," Schmieler said, explaining Lemons began editing pages until the work resembled an autobiography.

"One week I came, she had 15 handwritten pages for me."

"Writing the story has helped me a lot," said Lemons, whose illness has caused difficulty with speech and other physical movement.

"When I feel low, writing (in it) brings me back up."

Lemons' husband, Tony, agrees the project has lifted Lemons' spirits, although he still hasn't read the text.

"I'm waiting till she has it done," he said.

Despite the positive goal of the project, Schmieler still asked Lemons to address the topic of her health — an important, yet unhappy, part of the story.

Despite its sad aspects, Schmieler describes the project as gratifying, since it has allowed her to forge a friendship with Lemons.

"Doris has impacted me in ways she did not know," Schmieler said.

"And her too, for me," Lemons answered.

"We have a win-win thing here," Schmieler said. "And she has something for the grandbabies."

Suzanne Grove, VNA Hospice volunteer coordinator for Butler and surrounding counties, said the agency will conduct training for volunteers with writing or scrapbooking skills interested in helping with future projects.

Training, which often runs six to eight hours, can also be geared toward other projects like visiting nursing home patients or fundraising with the hospice auxiliary.

Family members can seek training to help their loved ones write their Legacies, Schmieler noted.

Grove said once more Legacy volunteers are trained, she believes patients will welcome the chance to tell their stories.

"I think it is important for the patient to be able to pass something on to future generations," she said.

"I think we all have a legacy. No matter what it is."

For more information on VNA volunteer projects, call Grove at 724-431-3502.