Pediatric patients in Franciscan Health Crown Point’s emergency room and inpatient unit now have stuffed animals and blankets to make their hospital stay more comfortable.
The stuffed animals and blankets are thanks to a donation by The Eva Martin Project. The project honors the memory of a 3-year-old Michigan girl.
Representatives from The Eva Martin Project donated 724 new stuffed animals, 292 pediatric blankets and 59 baby blankets to the hospital last week. Each item had a tag with the organization’s logo and a QR code with a personal message on the back. The tags contain wildflower seeds and are intended to be planted.
The Michigan-based nonprofit organization provides the items to hospitals serving children as a way to honor the memory of Eva Martin. Martin died at the age of three after a swimming pool accident. Her parents, Rick and Rebekah Martin, founded the project. They coordinate fundraisers for the items twice a year.
“Our mission for The Eva Martin Project, after losing our sweet Eva, who found such comfort in stuffed animals and blankets, is to now carry her love forward by bringing that same warmth she found to children in hospitals,” Rebekah Martin said in a press release. “We continue to share her legacy by spreading light and happiness, the same as she brought us.”
Health care providers at Franciscan Health Crown Point say that items like stuffed animals and blankets can bring a sense of normalcy for pediatric patients and their families during stressful medical procedures.
“They’re worried and it brings peace and comfort to them and their families in what is often a high-stress situation,” Maxine Moore, nursing manager for Franciscan Health Crown Point’s pediatric unit, said. “They get to take them home with them and sometimes bring them back if they return. We thank the Martin family for this generous gift.”
