Crocheting Comfort for Care: Teen Volunteer Uses Own Experience to Help ASVE Infants

Sadie Sheely, a high school senior, is giving back to the place where her life began: the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Almost 18 years ago, Sadie was a critically ill infant who spent weeks there. Today, she uses her experience and talent to crochet a prayer blanket and tiny hats for a current NICU patient at Peyton Manning Children's Hospital in Evansville.

"My parents have always told me stories about how I was born three months early and had to spend 10 weeks in the NICU," Sadie explained. "I can't imagine how hard that must have been for my parents, but I know that the community rallied around them,"

Her parents remember the time as incredibly difficult. "I had only envisioned a healthy, full term pregnancy and was in shock to know that Sadie would be spending many months in the NICU and not coming home as I had envisioned," said Amy Jo Sheely, now the Manager of Physician Practice Operations for Women's Health & Women's Behavioral Health at Ascension St. Vincent Evansville.

One small comfort the family received was a crocheted prayer blanket made by a volunteer-a gesture that left a lasting impression on Sadie. "Some volunteers crocheted prayer blankets for me when I stayed in the NICU. Inspired by this, I knew I wanted to do something to give back."

Sadie's faith and commitment to service led her to volunteer at Ascension St. Vincent. Along with the blanket and hats, she included a letter to the patient's family, which she felt was as important as the physical gift.

"I know that there are many challenges facing NICU babies," she said. "By writing a letter with the blanket, I wanted to provide some hope to the family by validating their feelings while showing them it is possible to overcome those obstacles."

Amy Jo said the act of service was perfectly in character for her daughter.

"Honestly, I thought it was a lovely gesture and it wasn't surprising that she was combining her talent (crocheting) with her service to others within the Ascension community," Amy Jo said. What surprised her was the depth of Sadie's motivation. "I later read an essay she wrote about this moment in time that inspired her and how it also made her realize that she wanted to be a doctor and have an impact on the lives of vulnerable babies and their families."

For Sadie, she hopes her gift offers more than just physical comfort. "I hope that this gift not only provides some physical comfort to the baby, but also gives some hope to the parents. And who knows, maybe this gesture will inspire someone to spread kindness to others in their community as well."

Amy Jo recognizes the resilience that has defined her daughter since day one. "People tell her all the time that she is as determined today as she was then. I think this is a way to recognize her strengths but has probably also encouraged her to do something special with her life... something that gives to others in a way that her community gave to her."

Doctors and critical care teams at Peyton Manning Children's Hospital deliver advanced care for even the smallest and most fragile patients. Peyton Manning Children's Hospital in Evansville is a Level III Perinatal Center. Our experienced on-site neonatologists provide care 24/7. Your child and family are connected to the right pediatric specialists at Peyton Manning Children's Hospital. From our NICU, we provide on-site consultation and care from pediatric medical and surgical specialists. And your family is connected to advanced imaging and respiratory support.