Spearheaded by the idea of registered nurse Linda Frost, of the Franciscan St. Margaret Health-Dyer Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Tuesday Stitchers, who are part of the Heritage Quilters in Lowell, made seven quilts to cover NICU isolettes. Group members took measurements in October and met every other Tuesday from November through March at Andrea Fox’s Fox Farm House Quilts in Lowell, to make the quilts, which have a range of colors, patterns and features, along with special embroidery.
Each is dark on the side facing the infant to mimic being in the womb. Four of the quilts feature flaps that let in light when needed and enable parents to see the babies. Quilter Gloria Kennedy worked with Frost to make sure the quilts would meet the needs of the babies. “It was a true joy to make these for the NICU at St. Margaret’s,” said Kennedy. Displaying the quilts before two of the NICU isolettes are (from left) Sister Maria Kolbe, assistant hospital chaplain; Patricia Margetis, NICU manager; Frost and registered nurse Pam Kunz; and quilters Kennedy and Marilyn Robertson. Not pictured are quilters Andrea Fox and Donna Zeleski.