Colorful Cushions of Cheer

One winter day, junior Tameka Judson watched a special news segment in tears- moved
by the personal stories told by the sick children at the Leaguetown Children’s Hospital.
After seeing the bleak, dull hospital rooms that the children were staying in, Judson
wanted to do something that would brighten the kids’ lives and bring them joy.
“Colors make me happy, so I was struck by the white-ness of of those hospital rooms, ''
Judson said. “Everything was so white and stark.”
She instantly thought of the idea of creating colorful pillowcases for the children at the
hospital.
“I thought if I could bring a little color into those rooms, I might be able to bring a little
happiness, too,” Judson said.
With a few of her friends, they began to sew radiant pillowcases, not knowing how much
it would impact the lives of the ill kids.
“I had no idea how much a pillowcase could mean to a little child,” hospital administrator
Doug Lent said. “I see children all over the hospital clutching their special pillow.”
Using three sewing machines and money donated by local businesses, the girls created
the pillowcases in Judson’s dining room, which has now been converted into a sewing room.
They plan on expanding the group and increasing production once they get businesses to
donate more sewing machines.
“I want this group to make 1,000 pillowcases for hospitalized children before I go off to
college,” Judson said. “With a few more sewing machines and a few more volunteers, we will do
it.”
As of now, they have delivered their first thirty pillowcases to the hospital on February
15 and plan to deliver their second set to the cancer ward on March 8.
“When we delivered our first set of pillowcases, I can’t describe the joy we saw in those
children’s faces,” Judson said.
Every child picked their special pillowcase, each made with fun patterns and colors.
Sara, a four-year-old, chose a pillowcase with bunnies and carrots all over it, and instantly
named it ‘Whiskers’.
“The pillowcase made a huge difference for our Sara,” Sara’s mother Valeria Gallegos
said. “When she was scared, she would hug it tight and tell us ‘Whiskers’ would protect her.”
The pillowcase was a comfort to Sara through rough times she faced, such as times
when a needle had to be put in her body.
“I had no idea what kind of impact it would have,” Gallegos said. “Color did make a
difference for Sara.”
Sara finally went home after a 21 day stay at the hospital, taking her pillowcase home
with her. Gallegos said she still sleeps with ‘Whiskers’ every night.
“These girls care so much, and it shows in what they do and how they present the gifts,”
Lent said. “When they delivered their first batch of what I call ‘colorful love,’ the girls went to
each child and helped the child select the perfect pillowcase.”
 By doing this, the team of girls got to know the story of each child they gave a pillowcase
to and spent time with every one of them. The experience was gratifying for both the kids and
the girls.
“Before joining the group, I spent a lot of my free time watching television and playing
iPad games,” junior Sonia Bustamante said. “Now I spend that time making a difference in a
child’s life.”
The pillowcases have made a huge change in the life of each child, brightening not only
their rooms, but their spirits as well.
“Some of these children have spent almost half of their lives in a hospital in those white,
depressing rooms,” Judson said. “I hope the colorful pillowcases will bring these children joy,
too. They so need it.”