Friends Make Afghans for Sick Kids

From Butterfly Wings to Angel Arms Creates Blankets for Children

Jun 15, 2007 Sandra Williams

Carol and Barb are an inspiration because they are both on disability and put aside their own health problems to help children and parents who are suffering.

Carol Dorrell and Barb Hudson began the organization “From Butterfly Wings to Angel Arms” after meeting at Carol’s craft booth in Missouri where she was selling crocheted dish cloths, afghans, walker bags, wheelchair lap robes and slippers. They discovered they had much in common such as the fact that they both had bariatric surgery for weight loss. Barb is a cancer survivor and Carol just had a cousin with breast cancer go through chemotherapy.

Carol is a L.P.N. but has not worked as a nurse since 2003. Both women are currently on disability, but that does not stop them from helping to make a difference for families who are suffering. From Butterfly Wings to Angel Arms is an organization of volunteers who make and distribute afghans, blankets and toys to local hospitals for sick and dying children in crisis. Their hope is that someday every hospital will have afghans and blankets for sick children and their grieving parents.

• So far, they have donated afghans and fleece blankets to several hospitals including Columbia Region Hospital (Columbia, Mo), Boone Hospital, Moberly Regional Hospital (Moberly, Mo), Hendrick Medical Hospital (Chillcothe, Mo) and Northeast Regional Medical Center (Kirksville, Mo). The devastated parents have been touched by the fact that people they never met care enough to help by making something for their child as a token of love. Although the illness and death of a child is traumatic, having something soft to hold can provide a small measure of comfort for both the child and parent. If their child dies, they have the afghans as a token of remembrance of their “angel babies”. Carol said, “This means that if a baby passes away, he or she is taken on the butterfly’s wings up to heaven and given to the open arms of the angel.” They plan to deliver the donations to hospitals four times a year. The next delivery is scheduled for September 2007.

When I asked Carol what they needed, this is what she had to say:

“Well, afghans in baby color, measuring 12"x12" , 24"x24", and 36"x36". Mainly the 24's and 36's . These can be crocheted, knitted, or sewn of material in baby and children’s patterns and colors. Or an embellished store bought blanket. We will also take donations of yarn, preferably baby yarn and colors, but any yarn will be accepted. Also, fleece in adolescent colors and patterns. We make these about 45/50"x60" Cash donations would be accepted. A check could be made out to me, Carol Dorrell or Barb Hudson, or both. It would be used for mailing to 2 of the hospitals, and to purchase yarn and fleece. We do not have a non-for-profit status. Right now all our money goes to yarn and fleece. We have gotten papers to file non- for- profit, but do not have the money, up to about $500.00. There is only Barb and I that make the majority of the afghans and blankets. Barb has a couple of friends that make a few afghans. That's why we are looking for help. There is not pay, but the rewards are great. If these afghans can give comfort to grieving parents or the fleece blankets can make a child happy and feel secure with these blankets wrapped around them, then our job is completed."

Where to send the donations: From Butterfly Wings to Angel Arms

Carol Dorrell

1105 County Road 2713

Moberly, Mo 65270

or

Barb Hudson

621 Gratz Brown

Moberly, Mo, 65270

Email: 2butterflywings@sbcglobal.net

There are gift tags included here provided by Carol that you may print to use. If you can knit, quilt, sew or decorate a blanket Butterfly Wings to Angel Arms would love your help. Each blanket or afghan donated carries an acknowledgement card with the name of the volunteer who created it.

The copyright of the article Friends Make Afghans for Sick Kids in Poverty/World Development is owned by Sandra Williams. Permission to republish Friends Make Afghans for Sick Kids in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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