Blankets of Courage

Wrapping cancer patients in physical and spiritual warmth--made by St. Joseph recovery room nurses 

Recovery nurses who take care of cancer patients in the Outpatient *PACU (Post Anesthesia Care Unit) following surgery at St. Joseph Medical Center are creating Blankets of Courage for patients. The nurses make the fleece blankets which are personalized with each patient’s name in embroidery. The blankets are presented to comfort patients who will be undergoing chemotherapy in The Cancer Institute’s atrium as the next step in treatment. Though most are breast cancer patients, the nurses give blankets to other cancer patients, too. The blankets not only help ward off the chills brought on by chemotherapy, but also provide spiritual and emotional warmth. Since the project began in mid-April, dozens of patients have received the cozy creations. Cancer patients often undergo surgeries such as mastectomy, biopsy or creation of a port-a-cath site through which chemotherapy is received. (*Note: PACU is the clinical name for recovery room.)

WHO:  
Jo Anne Moxley, R.N.,  (embroiders names on the blankets)
Betsey Niehoff, R.N.
Noreen Rodgers, R.N.
Sandie Bryan, R.N., nurse manager, PACU

The nurses got the idea for the blankets from a lay ministry workshop they attended earlier this spring at Bryan’s church (Redeemer Lutheran in Parkton) about ways to support cancer patients spiritually and emotionally. “Our socks are knocked off all the time by how very young and very sick our cancer patients are,” said Noreen Rodgers, R.N. “There is a need for more than just treating them post-operatively …they need more from us.”

“It was just meant to be,” said Betsey Niehoff. “Everyone in our unit just came together once the idea of the blankets was presented, and within hours we had pulled together what we needed.”

The fleece fabric, which comes in various colors and patterns, is purchased by Rodgers and Moxely in bulk, thanks to fundraisers held by the nurses and donations from St. Joseph employees, surgeons and anesthesiologists and friends. So far, $1,400 has been raised.

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St. Joseph Medical Center is a 354-bed nonprofit, regional medical center in Towson, Md., and a member of Catholic Health Initiatives. Founded in 1864 by the Sisters of St. Francis, St. Joseph has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s best orthopaedic facilities and is a nationally ranked Top 100 heart hospital. St. Joseph Medical Center is located at 7601 Osler Drive. 
For more information about St. Joseph Medical Center, visit sjmcmd.org.