Our Guild supplies the neonatal intensive care unit at a local hospital with preemie quilts. The quilts are small, 36" to 40" square. Initially the quilts are draped over the isolette, "insulating" these, the tiniest of babies, from the bright lights and electronic sounds around them. Eventually, when they're big enough, the babies are wrapped in these quilts for cuddle sessions. The parents pick out the quilts for their babies; the nurses from the NICU report that this is such a fun thing to do for all involved, there's always an assortment of happy colors and cheerful motifs from which to choose. To put things into perspective think of the size of this baby in relation to the quilt dimensions. In such a tenuous, day-to-day environment such as this NICU isn't it heart-warming to think of the comfort that can be provided by a small quilt?Life is Good!
11 comments:
That is such a worthwhile cause! Such a tiny little soul...thanks for sharing.
Such a tiny little thing wrapped in, and being kept warm by, so much love.
Thanks for sharing.
What a wonderful program! Having had a son who spent his first week in NICU, I wish someone had done this at our hospital. The colors, the caring, the feel of the fabric amidst all the machinery...
It's so worthwhile to make a quilt for these tiny babies. I received some lovely thank you cards from the parents.
You're right, this is definitely a worthwhile cause - warming up not just the baby, but the parents, the whole family, and the health care workers.
Young or old, big or little, hale or frail - quilts are always there to give a hug and offer warmth.
what a wonderful cause, your group must get so much joy out of bringing other families comfort.
I love reading what you are up to.
Kerry
I think it is true, that quilts can bring comfort for all ages.
From birth to death.
When I worked as a hospital chaplain, one of my areas of responsibility was the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. While the nurses and residents there were warm and caring and spectacular in every way, the environment was awfully sterile (well, duh!). I would have loved seeing those little quilts there to brighten the place up, to personalize the isolettes. And in the worst scenarios, the mom would have that little quilt to cling to as she was letting her little one go back to God. Oh, yes, I wish we would have had you around, providing these treasures.
This is a wonderful program and such a special gift. I'm also thinking that Allison has seen the tiny NICU babies wrapped in your quilts! :-)
What a great cause, and thanks for the reminder!
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