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Loudon church sews blankets for NICU babies at Children's Hospital

"We read about being the hands and feet of God and that was definitely a good way for somebody to do that. We are really thankful"

Loudon church gives NICU babies blankets — Every stitch and piece of thread that goes into a "Heaven Scent" baby blanket at Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church in Loudon is also filled with love.

The baby blankets are sewn for babies in the NICU at Children's Hospital in Knoxville, and it allows the babies to have a little piece of home with them.

Parents are given the blankets when their child is transported to the NICU. They are supposed to wear the blankets when they are at home and bring them back to the hospital for their child to have while they are gone.

Sue Beltz is the woman who created the program and brought it up to her women's group at church. She used to work in the NICU at Children's Hospital and knows how important it is for babies to be familiar with mom and dad's scent rather than the hospital's.

"One of the baby's strongest sense is the sense of smell, and this is something you can do to be part of the team and to comfort your baby," Beltz explained.

For new mom Michelle Irons, the blanket was something she never knew she needed until she got one.

"This blanket is definitely something new to us and as soon as we got it we just felt so happy and so thankful," Irons gushed. "It's just a special thing that I never would have thought of."

Irons' baby Miley was born prematurely at 26 weeks in October but is doing very well.

"She's now four pounds and we're praying we get to take this little girl home by Christmas," Irons said.

Irons is also hoping the Heaven Scent blanket will make the transition from hospital bed to crib at home a little easier.

"And hopefully when she comes home, she's already familiar and it just makes that whole process a little sweeter," Irons explained.

Overall, Irons says her family is thankful for the Loudon women who spend time making the blankets.

"We read about being the hands and feet of God and that was definitely a good way for somebody to do that. We are really thankful," Irons said.

Over the 15 years, these women have been sewing blankets, they have made close to 11,000. They meet every second Monday of each month, except for December and two months in the summer.

They create an assembly line to finish the blankets, and use soft flannel fabric with cute designs. Not everyone who makes a blanket has to come to the group. You can also pick up packs to take home and finish.

If you would like to donate to this cause, you can mail a check to Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church in Loudon.

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