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The feeling that Ellen Pawlik experiences when making a quilt for families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is like no other.
“I love knowing that, in some way, the quilt comforts them and lets them know that someone is thinking of them,” said Pawlik, who, over the last three years, has led annual quilt-a-thons with volunteers at Wayside Sewing in Marlborough.
Last month, Pawlik and the group presented their 1,000th quilt to BWH.
“We’re looking forward to coming back next year and adding to our tally,” she said.
Pawlik wasn’t the only one stitching away on behalf of NICU patients. Wellesley High School sophomores Taylor Donahue and Emily Griffin recently visited the unit to donate nearly 50 fleece blankets that they made as part of a leadership class project.
For both Donahue and Griffin, visiting the NICU was special. Donahue’s younger brother was born prematurely, as were Griffin and her twin brother.
“My mother knows full well the anxiety that parents experience during this time,” said Griffin. “What I enjoyed most about walking into the NICU was that, in some way, I provided hope to parents that things will be ok.”
The duo had help from the Boston College community in making the blankets. Donahue’s father, Steve, is the Boston College men’s basketball head coach and last month, his team and the women’s basketball team raised $1,200 by hosting a free-throw competition. Some of the proceeds helped cover the cost of supplies to make the blankets, and the rest was given to the Friends of BWH. Another talented donor, Beverly Kenworthy, of Peabody, stopped by BWH last week with 12 hand-made afghans for patients.
Kenworthy was inspired after reading an article in The Boston Globe about the work BWH’s Annie Lewis-O’Connor, PhD, NP, is doing with the Women’s After Care Clinic, which helps victims of violence.
“These types of donations go a long way to comfort our patients,” said Lewis-O’Connor.