Thursday, May 04, 2006

An opportunity for a new business

This past weekend Eleanor's PICC line was moved from her right foot to her right arm. No big deal for the doctors and staff around here until it was time to change her clothes.

We couldn't get her arm with the PICC line through the sleeve without detaching the IV, something gthat needs a nurse and is not encouraged since it opens a sterile area to potential infections (which are BAD in a kid with IV nutrition).

Within a day of this, my mother, my aunt and my grandmother were on the scene and by Sunday we had a line of adaptive clothing on site for Ellie with the seams of each right arm opened and replaced with botons, snaps and ribbons to close around her arm without disconnecting the IV.

In the picture below her right shoulder has two snaps at the seam. Changing clothese couldn't be easier. The nurses who deal with PICC lines all day long say that they have only seen an attempt at this once before and there is a need.




I told my mother that she should start a business modifying clothing for kids with medical special needs. She says no, but if anyone wants to fire up the old singer, we'll take 5% for the idea.

2 comments:

kate said...

Seriously, has there ever been a cuter kid?

Mindy Tarquini said...

Hello, Gib!

Sounds like a suggestion for the knitters, the cadre lovely volunteers who knit and gift all those cute hats and booties and quilts that you probably see popping up around the NICU, Transitional and step down units. Every children's hospital I know of has them. They try to provide a little bit of home for the babies and their parents.

I'll betcha the ladies would love to consider making easy in and out clothing for the kiddies. Or maybe they can think of a way to mobilize the idea among friends more talented with the sewing needle rather than the knitting needle.

Ellie's looking great. You and Abby hang in there.