At one point in my life, I sought to become a medical worker. I quit my full time job to become attend college again, this time as a pre-med student. It was a grueling two-year post-bacc program where a typical semester for me was 5 science classes and 2 labs. During this time, I was single mother of a 2-year-old son, and I still worked part-time. During the first semester, I was in a car accident which had me in a collar for 6-weeks and totaled my car. During the second year, I contracted viral meningitis which isn't so bad, however I was hospitalized for 4 days until they figured out it was viral and not bacterial. To say the least, this was not one of my best decisions. I made it through and graduated. But at the end of it all, I was burnt out and financially strapped. I needed to work full time again. I got the amazing opportunity to work at the hospital where I volunteered.
It was there that I saw behind the scenes of some of the hardest working people I've ever met. We all know doctors and nurses do an amazing job taking care of our health needs whilst working long hours. However, they aren't the only ones who keep a 24-hour operation going. Care partners, nutrition service workers, nurse practitioners, medical directors, environmental service workers, pastoral care workers, linen service workers, medical records people, building workers, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and so many more all work to make our health care systems work in tandem. I was amazed and I never looked at health care the same again. At the time I was there, this health system employed almost 10,000 people and contracted with hundreds of vendors - all to give people the best life possible.
I designed this fabric to give thanks to all of these medical heroes. I ordered the print specifically for making face masks to donate to any medical worker who so chooses to have one.
Thank you for continuing to work together to save lives.
A screenshot of the pattern designed for the "Medical Hero" face mask.
The pattern was printed a little too big on this earlier version. But it still looks great on this amazing nurse who waited patiently for her mask. I had made several face masks which she included in gift sets she personally made to selflessly give to her staff for nurse's week. They were some amazing gifts too - all 30 of them. I'm lucky to know some very incredible people.
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