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Alternative school donates for 'preemies' quilts
By Shawn Strannigan

Students presented quilts to the St. Charles NICU staff.

On December 19, students from the Sisters Educational Work Place (formerly known as Sisters Alternative school) presented 30 unique, hand-made quilts to the neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU) of St. Charles hospital.

It was a memorable moment for students, hospital staff, and parents of the tiny babies who will draw warmth and comfort from the miniature quilts.

Dr. Allen Merritt, director of the NICU, thanked the students for their offering of love.

"I really appreciate you coming today," he told the 17 teenagers gathered in the NICU waiting room. "Not all babies are born healthy. Five percent in Oregon -- and 10 percent in the United States -- are born prematurely.

"About one in 100 are born with birth defects," Dr. Merritt said. "That means sometimes the babies are quite sick because they don't have mature hearts or lungs. They need lots of medical and human care to keep them healthy and free from infection. Your quilts will help keep the babies warm and give them something to look at while they are in isolation.

"They will know that someone cares. And the parents can take the quilts home with them as a remembrance."

Dan Saraceno, director of the Sisters Educational Work Place, handed Dr. Merritt a notebook filled with pictures of the students as they worked on the quilts.

"This is a special opportunity for these students," Saraceno said. "Most of these high school students were either preemies or born with some form of birth defect. Many spent time in the NICU."

Lynnette Cauble accepted the quilts on behalf of all the parents of babies who have to stay in the NICU.

Cauble, a school teacher, told the students that she spends six to seven hours each day in the NICU with her five-week-old son, Jack.

"Jack was born when I was only 28 weeks along in my pregnancy," Cauble explained.

After she admired each of the 30 quilts, Cauble went with the students to the NICU viewing area. Leaving them peering curiously through the window, Cauble slipped inside the small room and carefully lifted Jack from his isolette.

She then held up her precious 2 lb. 11 oz. bundle for the students to see.

"Wow, he's soooo little!" exclaimed Joanna, a student from Redmond.

"I was born at St. Charles, too," said Alana Mackenzie, a 17-year-old from Redmond. "I've made a whole bunch of quilts at school. My mom is a quilter and I'm going to be just like my mom."

Many individuals and organizations worked together to make it happen. Saraceno contacted Jim Golden, who is the Special Education director for Sisters High School.

Golden's wife, Rebecca, is employed by St. Charles and she made the necessary arrangements with the NICU.

Cindy Summerfield, who oversees Sisters Quilts at the alternative school, taught the students basic sewing and quilting techniques, and helped them design their baby quilts.

Joyce Coats from Mountain Country Mercantile and Jean Wells from the Stitchin' Post donated fabric for the students.

The quilt project was also funded by a grant from the St. Charles Foundation.

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