Hi all – I want to pop in and share this lovely thank you I received from a member of the Palliative Care team at Mercy Hospital. The response to the Mercyful Quilt Drive has been nothing short of AMAZING and I want to be sure you know how appreciated your beautiful quilts are. So far we have received over 90 quilts in the last 10 months. Hurray!!! Just in case you are new to my blog, you can read the details about Mercyful Quilts here and here and even here!
Dear Bernie, Back in November of last year, our ICU nurse Patty reached out to you about how we used to have a supply of quilts for patients at the end of life (aka “comfort care”) here in our hospital and how the quilts have sadly been harder to come by in recent years. You in turn said some wonderful things about your own family’s past experience at Mercy General in your blog post and then asked for those in the community to consider sending us quilts to have for this program. The response to this has been incredible and we thank you so much for this help. I am a social worker on our palliative care team here in the hospital and have had the honor of bringing these beautiful quilts to the family or loved one of a dying patient. The supply that you all have provided has been amazing. I, as well as others, can now provide a quilt that family feels expresses the personality or the favorite colors of their loved one and allows an openness to talk about who they are- who they were. We actually have a selection for men on comfort care now which was always so hard to come by and in addition, we’ve been trying hard to honor our Veterans at the end of their life here, and those who made and donated the patriotic colored ones and the American flag ones are now used to help honor them in one final way and show appreciation to their family for their service. Our palliative care team, as well as the dedicated bedside nurses that care for patients in their final moments, can often feel helpless in wanting to provide comfort and something meaningful to loved ones during such a dark time. These gifts have allowed us to bring something they can find some beauty in and later keep to remember the one they’ve loved and lost. I am so sorry that it has taken me almost a year to write to you but wanted to say to you, and to all those who have made and donated these quilts, that we cannot thank you all enough for the time and effort you put into these. It means a great deal and on behalf of our team here, thank you so much for your wonderful gift. -Emma Cook Palliative Social Worker Mercy General
This was such a wonderful note to receive. I knew they were really happy to have the quilts but this certainly validates all of the work and effort, time and creativity, not to mention expense, that goes into the gorgeous quilts so many of you have donated. Please continue to make quilts for this worthy reason. I am happy to facilitate the donations and get your quilts right over to Mercy Hospital. Continue to think about gender neutral themes and the occasional patriotic theme as they are needed.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for your kind hearts and gorgeous quilts!!!
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful letter, Bernie! Charity quilters aren’t in it for the thanks, but it’s incredibly validating when we do receive it.
I know a quilt brings warmth and color to any stressful medical setting. It was powerful to hear that it can also prompt sharing of important memories.
I thought the same thing. I loved the explanation that it opens communication between the hospital staff and the family about their loved one. I had not thought about that. So sweet.
Such a kind and thoughtful letter, Bernie!
I was so touched by the participation in this project and how beneficial the quilts were to the families and medical staff during this grieving period. And while we don’t sew for the accolades, being thanked can keep us going. And you have opened up another avenue for the quilts that are made by our quilt guild. Hmmmm…….
I totally get it – receiving this letter just makes us more aware of the good being done by making these quilts.
And, if your guild chooses to contribute, that would be awesome. Contact me if you need any information. Thanks a bunch Robbin.
Thank you for sharing this. I am proud to have helped in some small way and will continue to put Mercy Hospital in my ‘to do’ list of quilt-making. Kind regards, Carol
For sure! Your quilt was hugely appreciated and if you choose to send another one, that would also be great. Thanks a bunch Carol. I hope all is well – Is it terribly hot down in your part of the world? It has been pretty toasty here. (Summer isn’t my favorite season as far as weather goes!!)
Yes, it’s been unseasonably warm, but we’re up here on top of the mountain, sitting at 4,000 ft. elevation so we get some good breezes. It’s at least 10 deg. cooler than either direction, East or West, going down off the mountain. I can deal with that. I’ll ad Mercy Hospital to my list of quilts to be made. You wouldn’t believe the amount of cut scraps I have stashed here. Embarassing… LOL But some day they’ll really come in handy!
Such a sweet note. Palliative care is such a gift to the patient and their family. It certainly was for us.
Thank you for sharing. ❤️
Thank you so much for sharing this sweet note with us. I’ve got a QOV that’s almost done to send y’all & have other quilts for you “in the pipeline”. I assume this is an ongoing project? I hope so as I certainly think it’s a worthwhile one!
Yes, on-going!! Send me a quilt anytime. I appreciate it greatly.
What a wonderful thank you note, Bernie! And a wonderful reminder of the love and comfort these charity quilts can bring to those who receive them.
Agreed. It made me happy to read this and know how much comfort the quilts are bringing to the patients, their families, and even the staff at the hospital.
That’s a wonderful letter and as someone who donates many quilts to groups without ever knowing who they end up with, it confirms that these comfort quilts we make DO matter and DO make a difference!
It is validating, isn’t it? I loved reading how the quilts offer an opportunity for the family to share about their loved one and choose one last meaningful thing to share with them. So touching. Thank you for the note Mary.
This letter is as big a gift as the quilts you’ve donated!
How wonderful! It is always nice to recieve this kind of letter. I am pleased to have contributed and hope to do so again someday.
Thank you Kathleen – This project doesn’t have deadlines or end dates so if you feel like it, your gift is appreciated anytime. The letter was really well-written and much appreciated by all of us. 🙂
Thank you Bernie for championing this cause. Thank you to Patty and all of the palliative Care team. I am glad I can be a part of the effort. In a world where a million things are going wrong, this letter tells me there is still a ray of hope.
For sure – I love working with Mercy. The people there are wonderful.
Yes – there is a lot that is wrong with society these days – but oh my gosh, there is much that is right. Surround yourself with the positive and it will give you energy to do what you can to help those in need. Thank you for the beautiful quilts you made for Mercy – you are a very kind soul.