Trash Into Treasure
 

This week someone in my guild made this request:

"I'm a volunteer at the High Risk Pregnancy Ward at the hospital, and we have had a request from Labor and Delivery for small quilts and blankets. They will be used to wrap babies that have been still born when they are shown to their parents... Last year we needed about 190 blankets for this purpose."

That just about broke my heart... I had some practice quilt sandwiches that I have been trying to learn free-motion quilting. I was going to throw them away, but thought I could cut them down to the appropriate size, bind, and donate. This is the first time I've tried to put binding on with the sewing machine. I didn't know what I was doing, but I thought it would just have to do since I was on a deadline. I got one boy and four girl miniquilts for the babies.

What a great way to use your practice quilting. And those are beautiful.

What a worthwhile cause... You are wonderful to do this, to give some comfort to families that are going through the worst time. They will treasure the blankets!

hugs

Caroline

Beautiful quilts for a beautiful and thoughtful cause. I think they will bring some comfort for the parents going thru the hardest thing a parent can go thru.

How thoughtful of you to do this! the quilts are beautiful and so well done. They sure don't look like practice quilts!

nice quilting ....

You have a great heart to jump in there and help out. Quilts are very pretty, nicely done.

these are lovely. what a heartbreak to be needing so many. i had to make 2 for my DD and SIL. thanks for reminding me of the need... i have some practice pieces i can do this with.

So kind of you . Boy that sounds like a lot in a year!

That is a very thoughtful thing you have done. My DD is a NICU nurse (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) The babies that she helps look after, often weigh just a pound. (Think of a pound of butter. A lot of these babies are about that size.) And because their bodies are so under developed at birth, if they survive, many of them will have life long health problems. A baby who actually survives and goes on to live a totally normal life, is a miracle and definitely NOT the norm.

Unfortunately, some babies just cannot be saved. I have made bereavement gowns of the unit for a number of years. The gowns are made of soft prewashed pastel flannelette and have a front opening allow for tubes and wires. Very often, the only time that parents can hold their child is while it is dying but still attached to all those machines. The gown and the blanket that the baby was wrapped in at that time, are preserved for the parents as a remembrance. Photos and hand and foot prints are taken and all these things go into a remembrance box for the parents.

The number mentioned is not necessarily high. Remember, these are high risk pregnancies and we have no idea how many babies were delivered at this facility and survived.

So sad and so nice of you to help a parent who is grieving.

What size are those quilts? I would look up in my area to see if they could be used here. Thanks

The sizes they requested are: 12" x 12," 16" x 16," 18" x 18," and 22" x 22."

The quilts I made are 16" x 16."

There are so many causes that we can donate to. This is a heart breaking one. Thanks for doing what I doubt I could do.

Such a sad reason for the quilts. So very good of you to make and give for this cause.

That is wonderful of you to do. I KNOW the parents will appreciate the effort you have made.

Good job for a worthy cause

I'm sure these quilts mean a lot to the grieving parents. What a worthy cause!

WOW - heartbreaking :( The quilts are beautiful and what an amazing healing gift you are giving.

What a great thing you are doing for those precious still born babies & their families. The Lord is smiling down on you for sure.
:D :D :D :D

Beautiful quilts for a worthy cause.

Your tiny quilts are beautiful.

Thank you for sharing
Have a Blessed day
Ellen

Great little quilts. And such a touching way to donate to.

What a wonderful thing to do. As the grandmother of a baby girl that passed within an hour of birth I can't help but think how much nicer it would have been to see her wrapped lovingly in a quilt instead of a hospital issue blanket.

Thank you for what you are doing.
Carolyn

Beautiful baby quilts. Beautiful quilting.

oh my, how awesome

Your quilts are lovely and will truly be a comfort during a most difficult time

They are lovely..

Awesome job for a sad but worthy cause.

You've done such a great job, and they are so much prettier than the usual "donation" quilts.

very nice and such a nice cause bless you!!!

Very thoughtful for a horrible time in their lives.

Beautiful.

Those are lovely. My heart goes out to those that lose a child. Blessings to you for what you do

So thoughout of you and a reminder to me that there are things I can do to help. Thank you for sharing.

This is a Sad job,
but a Necessary one.

Thank you for being so caring.

Having given birth to three babies (in the beginning of the third tri-mester) that did not survive, I know that this would have been a real comfort to me. They didn't even take the hand prints or foot prints for me to cling to. As I lost two in one year (one at the beginning and one at the end), the hospital asked me to return to speak to the staff of labor and delivery about the tragic experience and how the staff could do small things to assist the parents in dealing with this loss. I am so glad to know that they are putting emphasis on the greiving parents when nothing more can be done for the baby. GOD Bless you. BTW, just brought home our 6th great grand child who was in the NICU and was discharged on Friday weighing 4 lb 8 oz.

Such a thoughtful thing to do.

What a great cause to use your practice pieces for. It will mean so much to the parents.