Remembering the BIG giraffe…..
I am a believer that when we face challenges in our lives that those are the things that shape us and make us who we are.
I spent some time in the Children’s hospital in my home town and it certainly made me see children who spend time in the hospital in a different light.
These are the times when it is such a blessing to have a caring licensed practical nurse
helping to take care of your precious baby.
I remember my time in the hospital and I especially remember the BIG painted giraffe on the wall. I would stare that thing all day. In an all white room it brought color into me and my family’s hard days.
Just as a friend of mine said the other day about her own son being in the hospital, “It’s the little things that mean so much.”
I remember the huge teddy bear my uncle gave me and the pajamas my aunt brought me.
I remember spending the day with mom when we learned I would go into the hospital.
She bought me some books which I loved since I was a bookworm.
I remember her face when the dr. said I was going to be admitted.
She was strong as rock, but I honestly don’t know how she stayed so strong.
I remember how she wouldn’t even leave the hospital, not even for a day even though everyone told her to.
But I know she did it all for me.
Moms are amazing like that!
I remember too, the kid across the hall for me because he had such a terrible cough and I was so worried about him.
I left the hospital eventually, but I have always wondered what happened to him.
SO, that trial has shaped who I am and has made me want to bring COLOR to kids hospital rooms
and that is why I make bright, colorful and fun pillowcases for kids in the hospital.
That is why I have started this charity, Giraffe Grins.
How YOU can be involved with Giraffe Grins?
~ You can make your own pillowcases and mail to me so I can deliver to my local Children’s hospital
~ You can send me kid inspired fabric and I will sew them and deliver them to my local Children’s hsopital
~ You can be a Giraffe Grins Affiliate
* You can do this as an individual or as a group. I have had women’s groups and mom’s groups who get together, collect fabric, sew and deliver them.
* As an affiliate, you can sew and deliver to your local Children’s hospital in the name of Griaffe Grins. Please, spread the word and you can send people here for more information. My dream is to see Giraffe Grins making a difference throughout the country.
* If you want to be an affiliate, please email me at dee@thecsiproject.com. Put in the subject line- Griaffe Grins. As you become an affiliate, I will put your picture and what state you are from and other info like your blog, how to contact you etc, on this page. I would love to have affiliates from all states to represent on here. That way people can reach out to the person in their state to send pillowcases to or fabric. Please, also state if you are willing to sew pillowcases if people send you fabric. I will also put that info in your affiliate profile.
These images are from a recent sewing day with my friends that came over to help me.
Thank you for your interest and support of Giraffe Grins. I know these pillowcases make a difference to children and their families as they go through a hard trial in their lives.
I can honestly say that, knowing that the BIG colorful giraffe made my hospital stay better.
I believe in the principles that this blog was inspired by and I believe that we can live our lives with the same motto to
Create, Share and Inspire.
I would even add to serve one another to that and YOU can serve those around you or even brighten a child’s hospital room from far away.
You can do this by partnering with, The CSI Project and Giraffe Grins.
Please, email me at dee@thecsiproject.com to get the address to ship your fabric or finished pillowcases.
Giraffe Grins is dedicated to a sweet baby who returned to his Heavenly Father after living 506 days and was blessing to all who knew him and to his sweet family.
This sweet baby spent his last days in the Children’s hospital and inspires me to continue my mission to color the hospital rooms of those who are sick and fearing the unknown, just like I felt during my time in the hospital so many years ago.
Baby Chase, we love you and your memory will always inspire us!
Testimonial from a mom of a 3 year old Leukemia patient:
“I just want to thank you for doing this project. My daughter who will turn 3 in a few days has leukemia. She has a great prognosis, but the treatment process is very long (2.5 years, longer for boys). Even without any compications it is a tough journey. You are right, even something small, like a pillow case can have a big impact. My daughter had 6 scheduled hospitalizations, each time we stay for two nights. During her first hospitalization someone donated a number pillowcases and all of the kids on her floor were able to pick one. Jenna picked a hot pink polka dotted one. It brightened my day to think that someone took the time to make it and she loved that she had a special pillow case.
Thanks again, you are making a difference!”
~Julie from Missouri
We’ve recieved a few of these pillowcases. I remember Spencer getting one after his hip surgery last year. He was in a cast that went from his ankles to his belly button and the lower half of his body had to remain immoble for 5 weeks. Spencer didn’t understand that this wasn’t permanant so he was nery upset and sometimes panicky the first few days. He was given a bright colored pillowcase from one of the nurses and what was funny was that he did not want it on his pillow. He just wanted to hold it. He held that pillowcase the entire time we were in the hospital and after coming home. If I took it away for some reason, he’d get upset and we’d have to give it back. It really is the small things that help. I love that you do this.
~ Kaylee from Arizona