Sweet Tillie Jo

Our Fort Worth team received a very specific room request for baby Tillie Jo: cactus! Tillie Jo had been in the Cook Children’s NICU since she was born, and her Child Life Specialist, Baylee, wanted to help brighten up her room. Helaina and Sofia headed to the hospital with the perfect decor to match her nursery at home. One very special item included a personalized pillow at her mom’s request with Psalm 118:17, “she will live and not die and declare the works of the Lord.” As soon as they arrived on the unit, they were met with excitement and joy from the other nurses and Child Life Specialists. In a matter of minutes, they transformed Tillie Jo’s hospital room into her first nursery. Not long after they were finished, her mom came back to the room to be surprised. She immediately burst into tears and embraced Helaina and Sofia in a hug. She was so excited to see Tillie’s name all around her room. “Decorating for Tillie Jo was such an amazing experience to see how much our decorating has an impact on the patients and families,” said Helaina. It was an experience our team will surely never forget, and actually prompted the opening of our Grand Rapids Chapter! Tillie Jo’s family friend, Stephanie, was so moved by our work that she decided to start a chapter in her area in honor of sweet Tillie Jo.