Sewing With Nancy

cc Budget cuts have become the norm in all businesses including the business of medicine. When today's Nancy's Corner guest found her budget trimmed she did not want to sacrifice patient amenities so she formed a creative partnership. I'd like you to welcome Diane Haag. She's a dialysis nurse who also provides personalized comfort pillows to her patients with the help of a local sewing guild. Diane, welcome to Sewing with Nancy. Nice to be here, thank you. When I heard about your project it doesn't take a lot of sewing but it certainly helps people who are going through significant medical treatment. Patients sit in their dialysis chairs three days a week for up to three to four hours at a time. It can get very uncomfortable. We were providing services through a company a linen service that we no longer have. But we were able to meet that need for the patient and keep them comfortable with products that we give them as a gift. This pillow is one of those things that's included in the gift. It's a simple pillow size, a travel size pillow. The finished pillow case is just 12" by 18". They can be any type of pillow case but these particular ones were made by the sewing guild members. You're a member of the sewing guild locally in Madison. But there are sewing guilds all around the country. There are sewing guilds everywhere in every state. It isn't just the sewing guilds but different volunteer groups of people who sew. These are a couple samples here. You said the patients are appreciative to receive these. They're all different. Different patients have received different ones and are very appreciative of the efforts that the people have gone to, to make these for them. In the past, they received these without any charge-- Or, it was part of their program. Now it's a donation. This is all donated, yes. The fabric and the work are all donated. We were simply cutting our linen service budget and still able to provide-- Plus, the ones coming from the linen service weren't nearly as beautiful. I'm sure you can kind of personalize them. People have made them with men, women or children in mind so whatever fabrics anyone chooses. There's all kinds of varieties. What I like about this project is it isn't a huge time commitment for someone who sews. Not at all. It doesn't take much time at all. Sometimes people have fabrics, sometimes people sew. I often put those two together. There are, many times, people who are homebound who still sew. Getting fabrics to them gives quite a bit of meaning and purpose to them, as well. They're still contributing. When we talked, there isn't a website or a coordinated group, because this is a simple project. Right, it simply came up as a possibility for me. I said, well, I think I can do that. And you did, wow! We certainly have met the need at our company. But because of the interest and the need that it does seem to meet, there are many dialysis units all over the state and all over the country. That's what we want to tell our viewers about is how you can perhaps work with a dialysis unit close to you. Oh, certainly. There's the National Kidney Foundation. Tell us about that. That's a foundation that's national. Each state has a chapter. They're definitely involved in volunteer and charitable parts with their organization. They oftentimes coordinate this type of thing. As a viewer, you could go to the National Kidney Foundation find out your local dialysis area, contact them. That's correct. They would have a list of the companies that are available or might be interested in the area. Then you, too, could use some of your fabric and make-- Really, I think these are very attractive. They help the patients. The patients treasure them. If they forget to take them, they'll come back and they'll ask, "Hey, where's my pillow?" They'll name it by the fabric. Sure. Well, what a great way of incorporating kind of a community, working with the guild people who need a little extra comfort in a time of distress. Yes, many times, it's just recognizing the need where you are and making that need known in the community and there will be somebody somewhere that's able to help you with that. Diane, thank you for connecting the dots. What a great idea. Thank you for having me here. You're welcome. Thank you for joining us on Sewing with Nancy. We'll have our second program on "Innovative Bags and Totes" next time. Just remember, you can find out more about all our Nancy's Corner guests

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