Quilters Provide Keepsakes for NICU Babies and Families
The Winter Haven Resident Quilting Club, hand-crafts quilts and donates them to babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The Winter Haven Resident Quilting Club is a group of women that come together a few times a year. These women represent a number of states including: Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Texas, Michigan, as well as Canada.
It all began about 20-years-ago when quilter Linda Gainforth asked a handful of women in her retirement community to help make quilts for the babies in the local NICU. For almost 10 years, Terry Davis has coordinated this annual event of more than 100 women who complete more than 200 quilts in just one day.
“It's incredible seeing these ladies all working together to benefit our smallest miracles,” says Karen Rhodes, Director of Women's Services at Valley Regional Medical Center.
In addition to donations, the group hosts a couple of events during the year to raise money to purchase material for the quilts. This year, one resident donated nearly 300 yards of material.
From cutting, sewing, matching quilt tops-to-backs, stitching, and ironing; each woman has a role in creating these small works of art. With designs including everything from geometric shapes to animals, cartoon caricatures, toys, sports themes, and more; these quilts make the environment for the NICU babies at Valley Regional Medical Center a little brighter, a little warmer and a little bit more like the nursery that awaits them at home.
“During this often stressful time, the quilts and blankets offer a promise of home and are cherished by each family,” says Rhodes. “In addition to caring for the babies’ medical needs, the doctors, nurses and other caregivers strive to provide emotional support for the family. But, the NICU is not a nursery, it’s not a playroom, it’s nothing like home. Having the quilts in babies' cribs and isolettes offers a distraction for parents from the medical equipment surrounding their baby. Families enjoy choosing the right quilt for their baby; matching it to the personality of their child”.
When a baby leaves the NICU, the family can take the quilt home as a memento. If a baby has to be transferred outside of the Valley for additional care, the mothers take the quilt with them as something to cradle during the separation. And for the family of a child who does not survive, the quilt often symbolizes the life and love of their baby and provides comfort as they cope with their grief.
“Our NICU families are so grateful that people take the time to make something special for their babies,” says Rhodes.
