Project Linus

What is Project Linus? Their website can say it better than I can:

Provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.”

All three of my teenagers have allergies and asthma (they inherited it from me.....) The youngest 2 were in the hospital frequently when they were younger (12 times) and that meant some pretty scary nights. When they would be admitted to the Pediatrics Unit at our local hospital, the Child Life Specialist would give the kids a blanket that had been donated by Project Linus. 

As a parent, I can't begin to explain the effect a simple blanket would have on my son or daughter when they were in the hospital. Often times, one of my kids would suddenly take a turn for the worse, and we would make a mad dash for the Emergency Room. 9 times out of 10, they would end up being  hospitalized. There was no time to pack a bag or grab their favorite blanket.

Once the kids were admitted and assigned to a room, the nurse and the Child Life Specialist would come in. The Child Life Specialist would blow bubbles to distract the kids while the nurse would put the IV in their arm and make sure the oxygen was adjusted. The Child Life Specialist would see what we needed and would usually return with a blanket and toy for our child.  

 They are Project Linus chapters all over the nation. In our area, they would attach a beautiful poem with each blanket. It was so moving, it would make me cry. I thought of the hours someone spent picking out fabric, cutting it out, making the blanket, and then delivering it to the nearest chapter. All so my son or daughter could have a blanket to comfort them in the hospital. 

After my kids were discharged from the hospital, we decided to make blankets to give back to the other kids that were in the hospital. We did that MANY times over the years. I guess it was our way of paying it forward. 

If you are interested in making blankets, contact your local chapter  It can really make a difference in the lives of those that are in the hospital. It brings a LOT of comfort and joy.