Made with love

MURRAY — It’s supposed to be one of the most joyous and exciting times in a new parent’s life — preparing for the arrival of a baby.

But, then the unthinkable happens, and there’s a fetal demise. It is a nightmare come to life.

Nurse Kelsey Robins, RN at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines in the labor and delivery unit, is doing what she can to help the situation — enlisting her grandmother Mardell Boles of Murray to help crochet small baby blankets and hats for the families.

“As nurses on this floor, I think we all feel the same,” Robins said. “We want to be able to make our patients feel as comfortable as possible, and it’s such an uncomfortable and sad situation. This is what we can give them.”

Shortage

Late last summer, Robins, who is originally from Murray, had noticed there was a shortage on tiny hats and blankets, which the deceased infant is put in to spend time with the parents before being taken away.

It’s one thing to put the baby in a generic, hospital-issued blanket. It’s another to use a special, small crocheted hat and blanket that has been homemade.

“These families appreciate such a personal item coming from us,” Robins said.

Boles estimated she has made between 75 and 100 blankets and hats. The colors are typically pink, blue, yellow, green and a mixture of the colors.

“I just think there’s a great need for them, and it just means something to me to have those parents to wrap their little baby in a little blanket and hat,” Boles said. “Just like it was a live birth. It means something to them.”

Boles has also received help from others in the community such as Irvel Oshel of Osceola. She said she will continue to crochet as long as there’s a need.

“Anything I can help (Kelsey) do, she’s doing such a wonderful job,” Boles said. “It is just something she really feels special about doing this. I’m just glad I’m able to help her.”

As a nurse

According to Robins, as a nurse, there are times when the highs are high, but the lows are even lower, especially in these situations when a family doesn’t get to go home and raise their child.

Being wrapped in tiny colorful hats and blankets is often the best way for these babies to be presented again to their families.

Parents aren’t taking home hats and blankets that were designed for a full-term baby. They are taking home something small that was made to be just the right size for their child, and that can mean something, as Robins has noticed.

“We’re just glad to bring any kind of comfort, and that’s sometimes the only thing we can give them, which is sad,” she said. “We can sit and talk with them, but as soon as they walk out our doors, reality hits.

Shortage to surplus

With the help of her grandmother and others, Robins has been able to end the shortage of items at her hospital. Now, it’s to the point where the cupboards are full and the hat and blankets are being stored elsewhere. They’ve even been taken to the hospital’s NICU unit.

Robins said she is happy to be able to provide a lifelong keepsake to these families in their hour of need.

“It’s just so emotional to see these families to be able to go home with something and their so appreciative,” she said.