My daughters made stress boxes at one of their sessions and filled them with various tools to help remind them of skills they had learned to help them cope when they are worried. (Bubbles and a pinwheel to remind them to breathe deeply, playdoh and a stress ball so they could work through some stress, a journal for their private feelings, and a slinky so they would remember to "stay flexible.") The final object that they added to their boxes was their choice of blankets made by your group. The girls got to choose the blankets that they loved and have been so excited about them. They sleep with them every night and have offered to let me snuggle with them any time I feel worried. My youngest says it feels like sleeping in a big hug.

Thank you so much for this great gift. It means so much to children dealing with adult issues.

December 2008
Dear Project Linus Quilter or Blanketeer,
My daughters, Catherine, age 12, and Anna, age 6, each received a beautiful Project Linus blanket this summer from Wonders and Worries. I wanted briefly to tell you how special those quilts are to my daughters and how much use they have had. Each girl actually looked carefully at the blankets and chose their own.

Anna chose a quilt that has cowgirl boots and stars on it and is predominately orange and black. This one was chosen because Anna loves horses and wants to start riding lessons whenever it is possible. Her quilt has been used as a stable for her model horses and then becomes the arena when they have horse shows. It has also served as the blanket for picnics and a table for tea parties in her bedroom. When she watches a movie with Daddy she uses the blanket for snuggling. Each night as Anna goes to bed the blanket is with her.

Catherine chose one in pink, her favorite color. Her blanket has not only been used by Catherine, but has been used by her friends as well. As Catherine's friends hung out at our house this summer they all seemed to use the blanket. The explanation was that it was the perfect size and weight and the material was so soft. Catherine jokingly commented once that she never got to use her own blanket during the day because it was either being used by her friends or being washed. One Sunday, one of Catherine's dearest friends spent the day with our family because of a tragic event with her own family. This girl came in and greeted us and then immediately went to Catherine's room, found the blanket and wrapped up in it. That's how she stayed the entire day at our home, wrapped in the hugs of the blanket.

Most importantly, the blankets provided the needed security to the girls as they have dealt with their father's illness. I remembered looking up as the EMS workers were preparing to take my husband to the ER one night last month. Catherine was standing watching with her blanket wrapped around her. Anna took hers along as we drove to the ER. (Catherine convinced Anna to leave it in the car because the ER would have too many germs.)

I realize you may not know the specific person who made the blankets for my daughters, but perhaps you can share this e-mail with the people in your group. I just want them to know how much these blankets have meant to my daughters. The girls truly feel the love you stitched into their blankets. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself!

Dear Magical Blankeeters of the Austin/Round Rock/Georgetown Project Linus Chapter,
I am a child therapist at MHMR who had the distinct pleasure of giving out a few of your blankets (yes, your blanket)! I would like to tell you the "Blanket Story" of two of your blankets.

Jake* (age 5) and his brother, Tyler* (age 9) were recently removed from their mother's home due to abuse and neglect. In foster care for only a few weeks, the loss that they feel for their routine and their parent is intense. Tyler has taken to being a "father" figure to Jake, tucking him at night and reading him bed time stories. It is going to take the foster parents a long time to reassure these children that they are safe and that their needs will be met consistently.

The children each picked out their "very special blanket!" Jake choose a red star quilted blanket with a puppy print (he wanted the dinosaur print too, but had to make the tough choice!). Tyler chose a quilted blue/black shoe pattern with flames on it and green on the other side! With the sound of sadness in his voice, Tyler recalled that a family member handmade him a blanket, but he "had to leave it behind [when removed from the home]."

With blankets wrapped around them, Jake, Tyler, myself and his foster parent sat down together to read the poem and discuss how someone special out there (you...the blanketeer) made this blanket just for them, but couldn't be their for them...like their mother...that is when Jake's large eyes welled up with tears!

It is with great confidence that I know Jake and Tyler will remember the day that they got their blankets. More than being told someone cares, these grateful recipients of your blanket have experienced in a very real, tangible way that someone out their knows that they are having a very difficult time in life and that you cared enough to labor on such a beautiful blanket just for them...sending them your positive energy.

Your blankets are more than a gift....they are mending the hearts and souls of the traumatized children in our community.

Words can not express my personal gratitude at the vicarious, uplifting experience it is to be apart of passing along your treasures to children who need your healing energy. Thank you again.

*Names have been changed for reasons of confidentiality.

PS From time to time, I will be sending you more of my "Blanket Stories!"

Warm regards,
Jennifer S. Berliner, LCSW
Therapist
Child & Family Services
Austin Travis County MHMR Center

Our daughter wrote the attached essay while in the hospital after receiving a blanket through the Linus Project. I thought you might want to see what an impact you have...Amy & Brad I., April 2006

"A Stitch of Love" by Emily I.

Service above self can be many different things. It could be saving a third world country from starvation, giving water to the homeless, or trying to stop pollution, but what about putting smiles on kids’ faces? Isn’t that supposed to be a main goal, especially on the faces of those in the hospital? They may have cancer or have had major surgery. Some kids have Cystic Fibrosis. Whatever the disease, kids need to smile.

Maybe giving blankets to children isn’t saving a third world country. Sure, it’s not stopping pollution, either. What it is, though, gives children a glimmer of hope of being out of the hospital, or at least making their room brighter than just white. Patients should smile, as Tracey made me, even if they are in the worst place to spend Spring Break!