The Common Thread Circle

We made the bottom of the front page in the Texas Medical Center News, a newspaper published by the Texas Medical Center.

Here’s the article online, and below, how it looked in print:

This coming week will be a busy one for our group: Lots of meetings, lots of opportunities to make fabricworks for patients in Houston area hospitals. As Charles Peirsol, Manager of the Town and Country Starbucks says: “It’s all about the patients.”

Please join us at one or all of the following meetings. I can guarantee you will be well fed, surrounded by wonderful people, and feel good about what you do.

Monday, July 20: Meet at Starbucks from 2-4 p.m.

Tuesday, July 21: Meet at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church at 9:30 a.m. in Room 220.

Wednesday, July 22: Meet at Spring Branch Presbyterian Church, 1215 Campbell Rd., at 9:30 a.m.

In the last two weeks, we have donated handcrafted fabricworks to Methodist, Spring Branch, TIRR, M.D.Anderson, Ben Taub , Memorial Hermann and St. Luke’s Hospitals. They look forward to our contributions to patient health and write us appreciative notes. Look for some of their comments on this website.

One of the best parts of this job is getting letters from thoughtful people who are wholly committed to patient care, and appreciate what we do:

On behalf of Hermann Memorial SW Auxiliary, thank you and all who helped make the heart pillows and baby caps for our patients.  They are much appreciated by all.

“Little” things like this can make a big difference to both patients and family members.

Sincerely,
Marie Raymond
Corresponding Secretary

And another kind note from a patient:

We want to thank you for the wonderful and thoughtful gift you lovingly made for St. Luke’s Hospital heart patients. My husband had heart valve replacement in April and received one of your handmade heart pillows. The pillow was a great comfort to him as he healed. He is now completely well. Bless you for hours of stitching.

Jeanne and Mike Drosjack

Stories like these are the reason we keep getting handcrafts to patients.

The Common Thread Circle is grateful to The Cornerstone Walmart and Pam Escobar for donating a generous supply of yarn and quilting materials to our group. Sgt Frank Escobedo and PSO Wanda Wright from the Houston Police Department North Division arranged for the connection.

Pictured is PSO Wright holding some of the many items donated.

The Common Thread Circle makes and donates handcrafted fabricworks to Houston area hospitals. We thrive on donations and appreciate this generous support.

We received the kindest email from Wanda:

What a pleasant surprise. Thanks for your kind words. Looking forward to sending more donations in the future. I think that your volunteer work is awesome. Tell the ladies in your group that I said hello and keep up the great work.

Wanda M. Wright
Police Service Officer
North Division Community Srvcs

People send us the nicest messages:

We are so pleased to be a recipient of the heart pillows. Thank you all so much.

Becki Baird, RN
Manager of Volunteers
Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital

Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital is Houston’s largest and most sophisticated suburban hospital and has been serving the community since 1977. We are proud to work with them.

Susan White wrote in to us about the importance of handcrafts for patients:

2 years ago at this time, I was in and out of the hospital for surgery and tests and chemotherapy (ovarian cancer). And then I was gifted with a dark green shawl.

I love that shawl for many reasons. In fact, I just folded it up this morning. It stood as a reminder of the love and caring and continual prayers coming my way. It really kept me warm — those hospitals are so cold.

In mid August when I had to return for a 2nd surgery and was in the hospital for 10 days, that shawl never left my body — when I was in bed, it laid over my chest, when I walked the halls at the beginning of my rehabilitation, it was over my shoulders. During every single chemo day (6 of them) I had my shawl with me.

I do hope that each and every person who receives one of your group’s shawls is as blessed as I was to receive one.