How To Help Children With Cancer By Sewing A Special Pillowcase

Pediatric cancer. These are two words which should never appear adjacent to each other. It gives me chills to think about it. While there are countless Children’s Hospitals and medical facilities to battle the cancer, there is a charity which helps boost the spirits of the pediatric patients and their families in an amazingly simple, yet enormously effective, way.

Once upon a time, a family had a boy with cancer. To cheer him up during his hospitalizations, his mom made unique silly pillowcases. It brightened his room and his spirits. So, his mom continued to make him pillowcases and started making them for other children at the hospital. This is how Ryan's Case for Smiles was born.

How absolutely loving, cuddly, portable, and convenient a pillowcase is. Yet, it is a way for a patient to assert his or her individuality. It is a way to tell the world, “I am NOT just another patient. I am a lover of princesses (or the Eagles or dinosaurs or horses…)” Also, choosing a special pillowcase is a way for a child to control her environment somewhat – in a place where the patient and the family often feel utterly without power or knowledge. Hospitals can be scary. Having a distinctive pillowcase can be synonymous with stating, “I can make a decision and communicate who I am to hospital staff.”

There are many ways for individuals to give to this cause. Donations of cash or fabric can be used. However, I feel that there is quite a real gift in the making of a pillowcase. The positive karma of touch – selecting the fabrics, cutting and piecing them together, washing and folding the finished pillowcase – there must be plenty of good energy in this. These are very caring acts. I believe that the love that goes into the making of a special pillowcase is felt by the wee recipient.

If you are a sewing person, there is a good chance that you have extra fabric in your possession. This extra fabric could morph into a very silly and special pillowcase. The exact dimensions for a pillowcase and drop-off locations are given at the website: caseforsmiles.org. Furthermore, many more details about the history and the accomplishments of this charity are found on the site. There are many worthy causes and no one can support all of them. However, please take a look at this one and consider becoming involved.

Even if you are not a "sewing person," you can team up with one. Scour shops for silly fabric. Help with the measuring and cutting. Or, help with the delivery. You will gain from participating.