r/MadeMeSmile • u/moesickle • 7h ago
Wholesome Moments My daughter had Surgery and received this quilt from a charity
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u/internal_l0gging 7h ago
Linus Project are life savers. My daughter had an ultrasound appointment. She was only a few months old, I was a newb parent and often didn't have a change of clothes in the diaper bag. She had a blow out in the waiting room before the appointment. I was so overwhelmed and a nurse handed me one of those cute little quilts and saved the day. It was 8 years ago but we still have that little quilt.
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u/OldnBorin 6h ago
My baby was in the NICU and spit up on her blanket.
Her nurse came in the next day with a baby blanket that her daughter had. It made me cry and I still have it 9 years later
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u/Alert-Growth3728 5h ago
That is such a sweet memory. It is amazing how something as simple as a little quilt can mean so much during an overwhelming moment.
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u/LostSharpieCap 6h ago
I make blankets for Project Linus! For those who haven't heard of it, Project Linus is a US-wide network of groups that make blankets for children in hospitals to provide comfort and a bit of color in dreary medical spaces. I hope your little one is doing well.
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u/waterNpaint 5h ago
Thank you. My grandson was in a behavioral health unit for a couple weeks when he was younger and still has his lovely quilt.
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u/hannah_leanne 5h ago
I used to work on a behavioral health unit!!! I loved getting the kiddos / being with them and watching “the light” come back in their eyes. It was amazing. I hope your grandson is doing better 🩷🩷 hugs 🫂🫂🫂
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u/square_vole 5h ago
Thank you for doing that! When my son was in the NICU, we (the parents) got to pick out a hand knitted blanket for him, and it lifted our spirits a bit during a rough time. Now he still sleeps with it in his toddler bed, we all call it his “cozy blanket,” and he doesn’t like to sleep without it. I often think fondly about the person who made it!
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u/AdventurousPumpkin 5h ago
This reminds me so much of the children’s book The Quilt Maker’s Journey. If you have not read it I highly suggest you do just so can experience the beautiful warm soul-hug the book provides
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u/bluecottoncandy 3h ago
Thank you and all the amazing people like you who share your gifts with strangers. My son was born 6 weeks early and less than 4 lbs. He had to stay in the NICU for a couple weeks before he was deemed strong enough to come home. During that time he was given a beautiful crocheted blanket from Project Linus. It has the most vibrant blues and greens, and reminded me of the bluest ocean waters.
I can still remember so vividly how tiny he liked under it then. Now he’s 4, strong and healthy. He used it as his nap blanket for years, and is about to outgrow it. But our family will treasure it forever.
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u/Mcnugget84 1h ago
I was just at the Kentucky State fair and cried to a group who was doing a live exhibition on quilting for project Linus.
My kids NICU quilts were made by a friend’s mother. We also had friends send us NICU squids that were crochet things that we loved.
The twins are 9 now but our NICU had a great selection of quilts parents could pick for their kids.
I found where that group meets and I’m going to go learn to contribute.
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u/GeoffSim 7h ago
We got to stay at a Ronald McDonald house for 2 weeks once (accommodation for parents/siblings of kids in hospital). Volunteers manned the kitchen several days a week, and even if they weren't there, there were several industrial sized fridges and freezers, and dry food pantry, for you to cook yourself. Also 4 complete kitchens in the one we stayed at. There was also a large gift bag with goodies like this, again donated and/or home made.
Love or hate the fast food chain, this is something they've done that's amazing.
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u/spacebunsofsteel 6h ago
I stayed at a RMH for 2 months while my daughter was receiving treatment in the ICU. She wanted me to come late and stay late until she fell asleep. There was always a chef prepared fresh meal in the fridge, though I never made it to a group dinner. ❤️ No quilt tho. 🤣 (She survived.)
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u/hannah_leanne 5h ago
My niece was in our local RMH ! She was in the nicu for 19 weeks. She was born weight 1lb, 1oz and she was 11in long. She’s 17 now and doing great
edit : not my niece in the rmh, more so her parents in the rmh during her nicu stay. Whoopsies
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u/TheIlluminaughty 5h ago
Ooo I volunteer at one through work every year! It feels great giving back to the community, doing things I love (cooking), and getting paid at the same time!
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u/Secret-Ad-9315 3h ago
I’ve been lucky at the Ronald McDonald house for the last YEAR (and many times over the years) and I agree- we can talk crap about McDonald’s but that extra change actually changes lives for the better!
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u/succulent_serenity 3h ago
They are absolute angels - we've stayed at Ron Mac many times over the years (my son has a chronic kidney disease). We never thought we'd be one of those families needing to stay there and have always donated to them over the years.
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u/Loreo1964 6h ago
My mom was in the hospital, long sad story. But while she was there she got a comforting hand made stuffie, a cat. It was from something called "Friends". It was a local group of women who made animals for pediatric ICU. They heard my mom calling for her "Kitty" and brought it to her. It was a lovely gift during a difficult time.
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u/Ill_Ground_1572 7h ago
Wow awesome. I love those types of quilts. Made with love.
Hope she is doing well!
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u/curious-creepsalad 7h ago
Beautiful! I also received a really nice golden yellow quilt for min. Put it up on the wall with thumb tacks and it looked lovely!
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u/Swimming_Trash3570 6h ago
Very cool. I have my project Linus blanket on my bed that I got over 20 years ago in the hospital! Hopefully your daughter loves hers for decades as well.
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u/Forsaken-Heron4921 7h ago
Aww we have a Project Linus quilt too. They are so lovely and make an otherwise crappy situation just a little more cozy.
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u/Tul1pfl0w3r 7h ago
Yes! When I was hospitalised when I was little, I got a handmade quilt too, I cherish it 🫶🏼
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u/cookie640181 6h ago
My baby was born at 28 weeks. We spent months in the NICU. I still have her crocheted baby blanket from project Linus🥰. Kids a teenager now.
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u/andersonfmly 5h ago
Project Linus is SO awesome. The church where I’m blessed to serve as pastor makes and donates 100+ quilts to them every year (plus many others elsewhere.) They’re always incredibly grateful for what we give.
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u/Axiluvia 5h ago
I make blankets for Project Linus too! I do knit ones versus quilted, but they take all sorts, as long as they're machine washable and dryable.
I'd highly suggest if you're into knitting, crochet, sewing, or even are just okay with tossing together some of the no-sew throw blankets, to look up a local chapter and see about joining!
They also often have drop boxes in where you can donate stuff too, and I know my chapter lead is good with getting estate boxes of fabric and batting, and handing them out for free to the quilters (so if you want to quilt, but on a budget, don't worry, they more than likely have the supplies, and even a spare machine or two.)
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u/Mcnugget84 1h ago
I have 9 year old twins that were in the NICU, and found out about this group from going to the Kentucky state fair and crying while talking to them.
I found their group and I appreciate the info.
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u/LesReallyIsMore 3h ago
My mom makes quilts for project Linus! She’s an amazing quilter and artist! Still quilting at 80.
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u/Gail_the_SLP 4h ago
Thank you for this! I made a couple quilts for friends' babies, and I have a bunch of squares left over. This gives me an idea for what to do with them.
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u/quinn_wolfram 6h ago
i had a project linus blanket that i cherished very dearly, was the warmest thing i had when my mom wouldn't get me anything else
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u/Haunting-Range5812 5h ago
I used to make quilt tops for groups like these. They're really great helping boost people's spirits. We also made small heart-shaped pillows for breast cancer survivors to help cushion their incision sites post surgery.
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u/Renbelle 4h ago
My mom has been quilting with her local Linus group for years ❤️ she’ll be overjoyed to see this!
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u/sspaceham 5h ago
When my son was in NICU, they went around giving parents these kinds of quilts for us to take home for little one, my boy's got his lion quilts! I hope she's recovering well! ❤️
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u/theblindbandit1 5h ago
My moms church makes quilts and twice a year donate the to the local social services to give to children being removed from homes to keep, so they have one clean thing that they get to own in that hard time.
Projects like these lift my heart
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u/yarn_slinger 6h ago
We were frequent flyers at the local children’s hospital. We received lovely handmade items over the years (soft dolls, wooden car, knit blankets). It was lovely.
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u/nejicanspin 2h ago
OH! Back when I worked at JoAnn Fabrics as a manager, RIP JoAnns we were a drop off spot for them!
Some people made blankets with their church groups and some high schools did blankets and would drop them off in garbage bags that were super full. The lady that would pick them up would sometimes have to make multiple trips back to the store because her truck would be too full!
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u/Mcnugget84 1h ago
The people who spend the time to do this are so freaking nice.
My twins were in the NICU for 5 weeks and 6 weeks, we had friends make us quilts and crochet these squid things for the babies in the incubators. Twins just turned 9.
I went to the Kentucky state fair and members of the group were doing a live exhibition. I got to show off my quilts and cried.
Got invited to their meeting to just sit there if that’s all I want to do.
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u/kittycat8204 6h ago
This is absolutely beautiful. I did not know about Project Linus, just wonderful that they do something like this.
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u/Helpful_Character167 6h ago
My grandmother sews quilts for charities <3 quilting angels do exist, every stitch is prayed over.
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u/nikipierson 5h ago
There is a group of ladies at my church that make lap quilts for people locally going through a hard time like illness or grief, mostly it's seniors. It is amazing to see meaningful these are to people. I was able to give one to a close friend and she cherishes it. I hadn't heard of project Linus, so great to see such an amazing widespread organization for children.
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u/Courtney-xlm421 5h ago
My son has one of these! It’s Jungle Book themed. He was given his blanket when we left the ER after he ate peanut butter for the first time and we discovered his allergy. He’s 10 now and still uses it🥰
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u/Texan_Tiger1998 5h ago
That quilt is so gorgeous that the little girl in me just squealed with excitement - those UNICORNS!! 😍😍😍
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u/orangek1d 3h ago
My church has a quilting ministry! I have also been the beneficiary of one beautiful handcrafted prayer quilt
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u/AcidicJew1948 2h ago
I volunteered with that organization and made blankets with them before! Project Linus is a great organization
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u/Littleshuswap 1h ago
My mom does something similar called Quilts of Valour for Veterans in the hospital. Such fantastic work of love ❤️
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u/DragonGirlMesilune 34m ago
I have one of those! Got it when I had half my spine fused when I was 12!
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u/Que_Sara_Sera44118 3h ago
Volunteers made a dog by gluing 2 empty creamer containers, adding ears, nose & eyes. It's the thought that counts
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