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There is something exciting about a colorful ball of yarn becoming a warm hat or pair of booties for a cute little baby to wear. These items are more than just accessories — but clothing that warms the bodies of the littlest of humans. Furthermore, they can be an expression of love, care, and kindness.
For one kind-hearted woman from Port Stephens, knitting these clothes is what keeps her going. Kim Franks dedicates herself to making knitted items for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) babies at John Hunter Children's Hospital, all with her own two hands, ABC News reports.
“I do blankets, wraps, beanies, booties and the trauma teddies,” Franks tells ABC. “It keeps my mind active, keeps your hands busy,” she adds. “And it takes away from you thinking about yourself and you just start thinking about how you're helping others.”
How It All Began
Everything started with a social media post that Franks came across — about how the hospital was struggling to get donations of blankets, beanies, and other items from people because of challenges with travel during COVID. The discovery inspired her to do something. “I thought, 'I can help with this,’” she says.
Franks started to knit with the materials she already had at home, and still hasn’t stopped. Now, people across the region and interstate donate wool, and Franks creates beautiful clothing with it — donating four shopping bags every few months.
One of the reasons this clothing is especially necessary for preemies is because they are so small, and might not even fit into store-bought items. Volunteers at the hospital put together a package for each “preemie family” with items like a quilt, booties, a hat, and a sweater. Having items to put on their baby is a huge help and milestone for these families.
Warm Babies, Warm Hearts
Receiving hand-knit items isn’t only useful on a practical level. These pieces of clothing represent so much more. When a family gets to dress their preemie baby, it can feel like the drop of normalcy they needed in a difficult period. It’s also a comforting act, which shows the spirit of people to come together in times of need. “To know there are ladies knitting at home… they'll never see the baby that they help,” Brant Collinson, who had his son Nash at 34 weeks, says.
Meaningful acts can be healing when someone is going through a challenging time. And being the giver in these situations can be healing as well. According to Good Good Good, Franks herself suffers from the chronic inflammatory skin condition psoriasis, and is often bedbound. Knitting for NICU babies these past few years has brought peace and meaning to Franks. At this point, she has probably knitted and donated thousands of items.
At first glance, these items may seem like an ordinary little beanie or blanket. But for a preemie and their family, they can mean the world. For the person who made them, stitches bring purpose. Stories like these remind us how acts of kindness can be healing, both for those who receive them and for those who give.
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