Every year, millions of children become hospitalized from injuries, birth defect defects, and disease. These children need special pharmaceuticals and equipment that suit their small frame in order to help them get well. It is no surprise, then that the skilled pediatricians and specific equipment are highly expensive. Children’s Miracle Network directly raises funds to help diffuse those costs, train hospital staff, perform disease research, and purchase specialized equipment for children. In addition to donating, Key Clubbers can help out by:
*As adapted from the www.keyclub.org

--Provide toys and dolls for kids going through trauma.

--Contribute to or create video, toy, or book lending libraries or playrooms.

--Help staff information booths or surgery waiting rooms.

--Assist families with children who require long-term care or who live great distances from hospitals.

--Support safety campaigns or parent education programs.

--Purchase specific pieces of equipment.

--Volunteer at your local community TV and radio broadcast. The annual broadcast will air nation-wide inspiring millions of people with the heartwarming stories of children who have triumphed over diseases and injuries of all kinds.

Trauma dolls are also a great way to help out in Children’s Miracle Network. These dolls, made of fabric, are not only a great comfort for the sick children, they also serve as a communication tool between the doctor and the young patient. Essentially, the doll represents the child—the child can point to a place on the doll where he or she is hurting, and the doctor can use the doll to show the child where surgery will take place. As a result, any worries or apprehension he child may have is diminished.

1) Create gingerbread-shaped cutouts (15 inches high and 11.3 pinches wide) from pieces of fabric and sew two cutouts together with each piece of fabric inside out.

2) Make sure you leave an opening of about 2.5 inches on one of its legs for later stuffing.

3) Trim the edges and turn inside-out; it is now ready to stuff.

4) Stuff through the gap in the doll’s leg. It is usually best to stuff head-first, then proceeding on to the arms, legs, and chest.

5) After stuffing (the doll should be firm; the arms and legs should not flop), hand–sew on the final gap in its leg.

6) Call the children’s hospital and deliver. If possible, write a news release and publish photos about the donation in order to increase awareness.

It takes minimal sewing skills to make the dolls, so anyone can participate. Also, club meetings are excellent times to stuff them! See trauma doll pattern on the left