Little Hearts Make a Big Difference for NICU Families

A group of students from Quitman High School started their spring break by making a special delivery; 750 Scent Hearts to be distributed to families with babies in the neonatal intensive care unit at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler.

Scent Hearts are small pieces of fabric that can help provide the familiar scent of parents even when they can’t be present. The service project by the Anchor Club at Quitman High School has been in the works for nearly two years. Each fabric heart was hand-sewn with love by a Quitman High School student. NICU nurses graciously accepted the Scent Hearts which will be put to immediate use.

“Most parents begin bonding with their baby instantly after birth, and for NICU parents, bonding takes on a whole new meaning. Scent cloths help baby and parents bond through sense of smell, which is one of the earliest senses to develop. A parent’s scent can help bring comfort to their baby and help ease their stress,” said Whitney Guth, the NICU Family Support Specialist at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler.  “These Scent Hearts will be used in creating special bonding moments for so many families in our NICU. We are so thankful for the time and care it took to make them.”

For more than 34 years, Children’s Miracle Network at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler, has helped facilitate community donations, such as the handmade Scent Hearts.