Wrap-A-Smile Quilts in Egypt

Just home.....and still processing!

What a privilege it was to be part of the Rotaplast mission team to Luxor, Egypt, and to deliver your quilts in person. I have a whole new appreciation for what a special gift these quilts are! There were many wonderful comments from members of the medical team about the value they add to the missions. And of course, big smiles from the patients and their parents.

Please enjoy the Rotaplast blog which gives an overview of the mission, and also has a lot of photos with quilts in action:

https://rotaplast.org/all/missions/2023/

Using our wonderful translators, I usually delivered the quilts to the patients while they were waiting in a pre-op room, when they were still with their parents. Using a translator, I explained that "my friends made this quilt for you, to wish you good luck with your surgery. It is yours to keep, a gift from us." They responded with big smiles, touching a hand to their heart, or hands clasped in the motion of prayer. It was very emotional!

The quilts accompanied them into the OR and then followed into the recovery room. If you have seen pictures on the Rotaplast blog with the quilts showing back side up, I have learned that sometimes the nurses do that on purpose, to make sure the top side stays clean.

Also, in the recovery room, you will sometimes see a local blanket on top of the quilt. Patients react differently when they are coming out of anesthesia. Sometimes they indicate that they are very cold, so additional blankets are placed on top of the quilt. But the quilt always stays with the patient, and always goes home with them.

Our quilts also sometimes get used as pillows, or to elevate an arm or leg that had burn contractures released.

Depending on geographic location, Rotaplast teams often treat more burn scars than their original mission of treating cleft lips and cleft palates. As a result, they are seeing more older children, or young adults. Based on this we have modified the size guidelines to include some larger quilts.

I can't say enough about how much the COLOR of the quilts adds to the mood in a hospital setting. This mission took place in a new building, but a sterile atmosphere without the quilts. Often the missions take place in older, less well-kept buildings, and again the colorful fabrics help improve the atmosphere.

I photographed as many of the quilts as I could, but was also kept busy photographing patients at registration and just being a general helper.

Please enjoy these photos of some of your quilts.....