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Project Linus is a nonprofit organization that distributes handmade security blankets to children in hospitals and shelters, across the US. One of my daughters received a Project Linus blanket, while a patient in a NICU at Texas Children's Hospital (TCH). With so many other more worthy-sounding charities vying for our time & money, I don't think I'd have fully appreciated the value of this charity's work, had we not received a blanket for our daughter. But Project Linus' gift to our family has been matched only by that from Ronald McDonald House--my daughter's blanket is probably the most meaningful possession we own. My twin daughters were born at Texas Children's. One has a serious congenital heart defect--tetralogy of Fallot w stenosis of the left pulmonary artery. And whereas we knew before her birth that she would be an inpatient at TCH, just after she was born, we didn't know for how long. Actually, we weren't even told our daughter's true diagnosis until I was 9 cm dilated in labor. Then, due to a series of miscommunications & mistakes by my obstetric practice & Neonatology, I didn't see my girls for the 1st ~13 1/2 hrs of their lives. And once reunited with them, my babies were completely unfamiliar to me. Initially, I was in shock & blamed myself for everything--my daughter's heart defect (& her twin's related one), the traumatic nature of the girls' deliveries, & my inability to see my babies as mine. I feared that the medical personnel who were meant to care for my daughters & I, didn't, b/c I was inherently unlikeable, & I was terrified that I would garner ill-will toward my critically-ill daughter & compromise her neonatal & cardiac care. My daughter received her name when she was 7 days old; she also received her Project Linus blanket. This was chosen for her by her favorite nurse, Shiji M. It suits her down to the ground--it's a red & white patchwork quilt, printed w strawberries. Red is the color I associate w her; strawberries are her favorite food. My daughter spent her first month of life at TCH. Blankie moved with baby as she was transferred from ward, to ward, to ward, & finally home. Somehow, seeing my daughter resting on the richly-colored backdrop of her blankie eased the transitions for me. It provided continuity. And having such a familiar object that followed my little one, wherever she went, especially one that I associate so strongly w her, helped my daughter herself seem familiar to me, as increasingly, physical contact enabled me to feel that she was mine. Moreover, it was incredibly humbling to think of someone taking the time to make such a lovely thing for our daughter--however unlovable her mother might be, someone cared about her. And this eased my worries for my baby, just a bit. So initially, my daughter's Project Linus blanket was MY security blanket; but as time has passed, it's become hers. It adorns her bed. It serves as a stroller-blanket. And she uses it to play peek-a-boo. In another year, I imagine she'll use it to swaddle her dolls. And it will certainly accompany her to TCH when she returns for cardiac catheterizations & surgeries. Blankets donated through Project Linus needn't be elaborate. Project Linus will accept most any blanket, provided it is new, unused, handmade, washable, & reasonably-free of germs; mold; mildew; smoke; chemical contaminants; & pet-hair. Our daughter's blanket came with a tag giving the name & contact info of the "Blanketeer" who made it--an especially lovely touch--but even that isn't required. A few months ago, my family & I had the chance to give back to Project Linus. We made our first No-Sew fleece blanket at a Blanketeering event at a local school, in Houston, TX. It was a very well thought-out idea for an event--children as young as 3 years old chose the fabric they wished to make their blankets from, & w supervision, fashioned blankets by cutting off the selvage, & cutting & tying fringe. (Detailed instructions are available at: http://www.projectlinus.org/patterns/pdf/NoSewFB.pdf, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59h8wgDgTRg.) So the Blanketeering event benefited not only those children who will be receiving blankets, but those who volunteered to help make them. In all, Project Linus is an incredibly worthy charity that provides security blankets made by caring Blanketeers to children desperate for caring & security, many of who's family members are too. One needs no special skills to complete a No-Sew blanket--even very young children can do this. If you'd like more information on Project Linus, or wish to make a monetary donation, or that of a blanket or blanket-making materials, visit http://www.projectlinus.org, or contact your local chapter coordinator. read more
