On the morning of Christmas Eve we headed up to the NICU with a basket full of hats, hearts full of joy and breakfast for our nurses. We had so many hats that we were able to allow each of the parents to choose a keepsake Christmas hat for their baby and supply the NICU with plenty to put in their rotation.
I can’t thank y’all enough for your participation in this project. Every time I returned from the post office I teared up at the generosity wrapped in those boxes. One time I cried AT the post office because there were so many packages that they had given me two additional lockers to hold them all. Then people gave me anxious looks as they held open doors for me, arms overflowing and sniffling back tears.
We ended up with over a hundred hats in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. There were soft, white hats to fit the tiniest of heads, candy cane striped hats, hats with flowers, itty bitty elf shaped hats and cozy little hats with ear flaps.
When I posted on facebook about dropping off the hats, my sweet friend Jody sent me a message that said “It’s so neat how Scarlette’s struggles and challenges now allow you an extra large measure of peace and blessing and hope to give to other families who find themselves in the place you were just one year ago. I am always amazed, yet shouldn’t be, that God uses our trials and pain in life to be part of the gifts and become beautiful ways for us to touch others”
I am so grateful to be on this chapter of our story. I count it a privilege to be able to offer even the smallest measure of hope and comfort to other families. We will incorporate this into our traditions in each Christmas season hereafter, finding a way to give and serve the families who are spending the holiday in a hospital room.
Thank you so much for giving of your time and talents to clothe a tiny little head and fill a family’s heart. You took my little vision and made it such a big reality. Thank you.
I forgot to take my camera in to the NICU. Can you believe that? Our favorite nurse snapped some pics on her phone but I think she forgot to email them and I know some of y’all are anxious to see photos!
(The first picture is her with all of the hats before we left Christmas Eve morning. She’s wearing larger versions of hats some sweet readers sent for her along with their preemie hats- so cute!)
