Downsizing
CRANBERRY TWP — Thanks to an ever-growing group of caring individuals, humankind's tiniest creatures are warm and stylish.
Jan Shaffer, a member of St. Ferdinand Roman Catholic Church, crocheted blankets for nursing home residents for one year before getting the idea to start a church ministry that creates outfits for premature babies. Shaffer got the notion after her daughter's friend, the mother of a "preemie," complained she could not find clothing small enough to fit the tiny infant.
After getting the OK from St. Ferdinand pastoral associate Barb McCarthy, Shaffer approached Megan Leese of the Parent Resource Network in Pittsburgh. Leese, whose own premature daughter survived for 21 days before succumbing to an intestinal infection, jumped at the chance to help preemies and their families.
The project, named God's Precious Preemies by Shaffer's husband, Bill, was advertised in the church bulletin for four Sundays in June. By the first meeting on June 30, 60 to 70 people had signed up for the ministry.
"It's just snowballing," said an exhausted and thrilled Shaffer. "I thought if I could get 12 people, I was going to be ecstatic."
At the Sept. 22 Precious Preemies meeting, Shaffer explained the group meets at the church once per month to knit and crochet tiny blankets, jackets, hats, booties, going-home outfits and even burial sets. The items are distributed to five area hospitals.
Knitting, crochet and sewing lessons are available at each meeting, and preemie patterns are exchanged. Church members who do not knit, crochet or sew deposit skeins of pastel yarn and yards of fabric in a box.
A large zipper bag on Monday contained six tiny Christmas hats, and four soft flannel jack-o-lantern hats lay nearby. Shaffer made a miniature Steelers outfit from black and gold yarn, complete with a large "S" on the hat.
"You're never too young to be a Steelers fan," she said.
Many veteran seamstresses, like Carol Kulbacki of Cranberry Township, arrive at the church each month bearing items they made at home.
On Monday, the soft-spoken Kulbacki carried a huge box into the meeting that contained 60 tangerine-sized hats, 17 pairs of itsy-bitsy booties and eight going-home sets that include a matching dress, booties, hat and warm blanket.
"I lost a child and I did not get to dress her in clothes made by others," Kulbacki said of her loss 35 years ago. "I felt an obligation to do this as a tribute to my daughter."
Kulbacki also leads a weekly meeting at the Regency senior-citizen highrise off Rolling Road, where she guides residents in creating preemie clothes and blankets. Shaffer also encouraged St. Ferdinand's disabled and elderly members to contribute items for Precious Preemies.
"I wanted to reach the shut-ins," said Shaffer. "Sometimes they feel like they don't have a purpose. If they can't bring in the things they've made, we'll go get them."Shaffer said because word has spread throughout the region, items for Precious Preemies come in from Jeannette, Belle Vernon, Ellwood City and Saxonburg. She said three ladies visiting Cranberry Township from California attended a Precious Preemies meeting and now send items from the Golden State."Women love babies," said Shaffer. "I think that has something to do with it."Leese attends each meeting as a group member and Parent Resource Network representative. Leese marvels each week at the payload of items she places in her car for distribution to McGee-Womens, Allegheny General, West Penn, UPMC Childrens and UPMC Mercy hospitals as well as the Transitional Infant Care Center at Children's Home of Pittsburgh.Leese said the St. Ferdinand group creates and donates more items than any of the six other groups in Western Pennsylvania. Because her own loss has allowed for a personal connection with the program, Leese understands first-hand the emotional importance of the tiny clothes and blankets."I got a quilt from an unknown volunteer who donated it to the hospital," Leese recalled of her daughter Julia's struggle to survive. "That's one of the only things I have left of her. These blankets and clothes become a keepsake to parents like me."Leese said the caring and generosity of St. Ferdinand members does not end with the miniscule items made for the preemies. The After Baby Comes Mother's group is planning to donate items for the snack bags given to parents of preemies. Leese said concerned parents not wanting to leave their infant's side appreciate the bags, which contain a non-perishable breakfast and lunch item, plus water and a variety of snacks.Children in St. Ferdinand CCD classes have begun making crib cards, or 5-by-7 inch decorated pink or blue cards for the baby's name. Space on the back is where parents record their preemies' milestones. The cards are taped to an infant's isolette, which is a small bed designed specifically for the needs of premature patients.On Monday night, Leese was excited that the executive director and founder of Parent Resource Network, Kelly Fraasch, traveled to St. Ferdinand to give a presentation on her nearly 2-year-old organization. Diane Shaffer, PRN's program services co-chair, assisted Fraasch with the presentation."They wanted to come out and meet these ladies who are making all these things, and thank them," said Leese.Fraasch said she was pleasantly surprised at the response of St. Ferdinand members to the premature baby project."We wouldn't be able to support the hospitals we do without their support," said Fraasch. "It's wonderful to put a face with the people supporting the service we're providing."As the Precious Preemies meeting time neared, women streamed into St. Ferdinand carrying boxes of beautifully crafted items. Others brought knitting needles and crochet hooks of varying sizes as well as yarn and fabric.Shaffer said she will never cease to marvel at the generosity and love of the St. Ferdinand members who so eagerly responded to God's Precious Preemies."We have a very giving parish," she said.Upcoming meetings are set for 12:30 and 7 p.m. Oct. 27 in the church's Upper Room, 2535 Rochester Road.
