Heart Hug Pillows Provide Unique Form of Postoperative Care

Heart Hug pillows are a new form of postoperative therapy for pediatric heart patients at Texas Children's Hospital.

"It took medical science several centuries to acknowledge what moms and grandmothers always knew," says Mary Beth Mauer, director of the cardiology department at Texas Children's. "Hugs can be powerful medicine!"

Like many remarkable volunteer programs, Heart Hugs began with a simple idea.

"Let's give patients a pillow they can use to collect autographs from their doctors and nurses," says Dr. Timothy Bricker, chief of cardiology. "It will give them a fun remembrance of their stay with us at Texas Children's."

That simple idea proposed by Dr. Bricker has blossomed into a huge project involving hundreds of volunteers who lovingly make soft, heart-shaped pillows for every child having heart surgery at Texas Children's Hospital. Heart Hugs have become a community-wide gift to young patients, propelled largely by the energy of Esther Weise, president-elect of The Auxiliary to Texas Children's Hospital and a volunteer in cardiology.

Following surgery, children are urged to cough to expand their lungs. By using a pillow, children can hold it to their chests when they cough. It helps soften the impact, reducing the pain of the coughing.

Weise invented the idea of using a heart shape because psychologically, kids know hugs from the heart do not hurt. She investigated how thick the pillow should be to be effective and asked many of her friends to donate the material and volunteer to make the pillows.

"I did not expect the response to be that great; however, everyone wanted to help," she says. "We had several volunteers, including the National Charity League, the Houston Junior Woman's Club, the Hope Center Alternative School, Texas Children's volunteers and many American Heart Association members. They have helped make the Heart Hug pillows project a success."

The Texas Children's Heart Center performs nearly 500 surgeries on children each year. Weise says they have nearly 800 Heart Hug pillows to pass out to patients. These are expected to last to the middle of the year 2000.

The pillows are approximately 14 inches in diameter, stuffed with material, and sewn using many different patterns and several colors. They are packaged in a Texas shaped box, which includes informative literature from the Texas Children's Heart Center. The volunteers also write notes on heart cutouts to cheer up the youngsters.

It has been a heart-warming experience for Weise, who has seen the tremendous impact of the pillows.

"When you see some of the kids leave the hospital clutching their Heart Hug pillows, it brings a tear to your eye," she adds. "The volunteers have given their time, talent and their hearts to help the children."

---

©2006 Texas Medical Center

---

E-Mail: tmc-info@tmc.edu
URL: http://www.tmc.edu/tmcnews/07_15_99/page_03.html