Debra Steup created a quilt that is part of the September 11th Memorial Archives in New York City. That’s just one of her many community-oriented accomplishments which involve fabric, batting, needle and thread.
The Columbia Memorial Hospital employee, along with 31 members of Piecemakers of Cairo, a local women’s quilting group, also makes quilts for wounded U.S. troops in military hospitals.
A new project of the group is the creation of medical play dolls that will be used at Columbia Memorial. The dolls prepare children for procedures and familiarize them with the hospital’s environment.
Medical play dolls help staff develop rapport with the children and help the children relax.
According to hospital spokesperson Tish Finnegan, besides the doll’s obvious source of comfort, it helps kids cope with upcoming treatment processes. The doll can be used, for example, to show where an injection will be given or what posture or body position is desired.
“Most of all the doll helps staff assess children’s perceptions and feelings,” says Finnegan.
“Talking about the doll helps children explore concerns in a non- threatening way. And they get to personalize the dolls with decorations they make with non-toxic markers.”
Steup recently presented the dolls to staff nurses.
She and her group have created chemo caps for cancer victims and made a troop quilt for wounded soldiers in the Landstuhl, Germany military hospital.
“Our women have used their sewing skills and kindheartedness to make and donate many items,” says Steup.
The group has made placemats for the homebound, Christmas ornaments to raise money for a local ambulance squad, bibs, lap quilts and wheelchair bags for veterans at the VA hospital in Albany, small pillowcases for children ill with cancer at Albany Medical Center, and pillowcases for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
