The Gift of Quilts

This story comes to us from JoAnn Lewis, a member of the Washington State School Retirees Association Unit 2, Chelan/Douglas. Quotes republished from the WSSRA’s publication, The Journal. 

JoAnn Lewis shared her story with us while dropping off the donation of a new quilt and pillowcases to the House. She writes, “I began quilting in 1998 as we excitedly awaited the arrival of our first granddaughter. At the age of two months, she was diagnosed with PKD – polycystic kidney disease and she has been an outpatient at Children’s Hospital in Seattle for all these years. She received a kidney transplant two years ago and I spent many days by her side during the hospitalization and recovery at the Ronald McDonald House. Upon entering the Ronald McDonald House, the walls were covered with beautiful donated children’s quilts. There is a room where each child may choose a handmade quilt which they can keep and take with them when they are able to leave the Ronald McDonald House.”

JoAnn has continued to make quilts for the Ronald McDonald House and we are so appreciative of the effort she puts into each one. She says, “I hope the quilts bring warmth and comfort to the children, as they were made with love for the ill children. My granddaughter is celebrating her 28th month with her new kidney and is living a normal life at this time. With love and joy, I am working to complete quilt number 81 and have plans to take my new quilt to the hospital this spring.”