February 04, 2025
Local News

Hannah Beardsley students sew hearts for babies, mothers in ICU

By SUBMITTED REPORT

Cheyanne Secoy of Harvard feeds her newborn, Wrenlynn Marie Secoy, on Feb. 1 at Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital. Secoy's newborn and about 14 other babies at Northwestern Medicine hospitals in McHenry and Huntley wear a red knit hat donated by American Heart Association volunteers to raise awareness for American Heart Month in February. Secoy has walked in heart walk events and considers herself an advocate for heart disease awareness, with a special connection to the cause because her grandmother in Kentucky has had two open-heart surgeries. (Matthew Apgar)

About 60 Hannah Beardsley Middle School eighth-grader learning to sew will create fleece hearts this week for the neonatal intensive care unit at Northwestern Medicine Prentice Women’s Hospital in Chicago.

Known as “inspirational hearts” or “lovies,” the handmade items will be provided to mothers and fathers whose infants have been admitted to the intensive care unit to help them bond with their child.

Each family is given two hearts – one for the baby and one for the mother. One heart is placed under the baby and the other heart is given to the mother to place next to her skin.

Each heart absorbs the scent of the wearer. When the mom comes to visit the baby, she exchanges her heart for her baby’s heart, so both mom and baby begin to connect and bond through scent.