It’s never too late to learn a new skill! Pushed and encouraged by a challenge from the community and a desire to do something worthwhile, see how this elderly man came up with a unique idea of knitting colorful and cozy hats for premature babies.
Perhaps, this warm story will motivate you to do something similar!
Ed, a recently retired engineer, had always associated knitting with two needles and nothing more. But then, as the holiday season approached, he sincerely got to teaching himself the serious business on how to knit.
“I prevailed on my daughter to get a kit, and it comes with the right size loom and the right tools to help you knit one,” Moseley informed ABC News. “I just followed the instructions. It was easy. Somehow I had never knitted, and I always associated knitting with a bunch of needles but this looked pretty doable for me. I went through two or three before I came out with a good finished product.”
Ed not only took on the challenge but also went ahead and inspired more people in the community to knit, by holding knitting classes. Finding excitement and encouragemnet in every stitch , Ed set to work and before long, he managed, painstakingly, to knit 55 tiny, adorable baby caps.
On November 17, 2016, with the joint efforts of his community members, staff, family and friends, together, they managed to knit more than 300 caps.
This is what the overwhelmed parents of the preemie babies had to say…
“It means a lot to us because this is our second stint in the NICU,” said Doug Bunt, who’s young son Matthew was born on November 12. “We have a 5-year-old who spent 54 days up there. To know there are other people who are thinking about the well-being of these babies, our babies, it’s really nice to know. The fact this man is taking time out of his day to help the kids really means a lot to us.”
The NICU staff at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, who care for around 2,000 premature infants each year, had never before witnessed such a benevolent act of kindness!
“It’s great to receive these wonderful gifts,” said Linda Kelly, the clinical manager of the special care nursery. “To have a gift left at the bedside, or a nurse put the hat on the little baby’s head, makes it all seem less like a hospital. It’s important for families to see their baby as a baby and not as a patient. This will help to get the families to that spot.”
For Ed, knitting hats was an added hobby for him now. It gave him something to keeps his hands busy while he completed his other favorite hobby – watching golf on TV.
“When someone appreciates something you do, that makes you feel good, naturally,” Ed remarked. “I got a lot of enjoyment doing this and now I’ve graduated to large caps. I’m doing caps for all my grandkids.”
Nothing like homemade gifts made with love to warm your heart!
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