NURSING and midwifery student Courtney Norman from Strelitzia Park in Uitenhage recently started a project in which she donates crocheted octopuses to premature babies at various hospitals in Bloemfontein to help them feel safe.
Norman who is a fourth-year student at the University of the Free State works at various healthcare facilities in Bloemfontein as part of her training went into nursing because she always had a soft spot for babies and pregnant women.
Despite having only one year’s experience crocheting, she was determined to help the delicate premature babies at the various hospitals she worked at with her Octopus for Preemies project.
“I read an article about crocheted octopuses being a source of comfort to the premature babies and I had a huge desire to want to help all the little preemies. The tentacles apparently from the crocheted octopus give an out of womb feeling as they mimic the umbilical cord. It also apparently helps to prevent the babies from pulling on any tubes or pipes attached to them,” said Norman.
Owing to her awkward schedule and long hours working as a nurse, it was difficult for Norman to make all the crocheted octopuses she needed, and she therefore reached out to a few friends to help her with the project.
To extend the initiative to help even more premature babies, she posted about the initiative on Facebook in November last year, but she did not receive many donations.
When she sent out the same post at the start of the nationwide lockdown in March, she received a great amount of exposure and emails from people interested in donating.
Thus far, she has received 10 crocheted octopuses and is awaiting several items which have recently been couriered.
“When I started this project, I did not expect it to spread so far, or to get even half the response I got,” said Norman.
Despite only recently establishing the Octopus for Preemies project, Norman together with her lecturer, Sister Vanessa Booysen, is planning to implement the project at all public hospitals in Bloemfontein once they have attended to the necessary logistics of the project.
“I hope to get this implemented in the public hospitals in Bloemfontein, but it would be incredible if it was able to be spread to all major public hospitals across the country and reach all babies,” said Norman.
She believes that the crocheted octopuses will not only help during the Coronavirus pandemic, but as a general measure to help the babies who are exposed to serious sensory distress.
Norman was able to find the pattern for the crocheted octopuses on Pinterest and retyped it to make it easier for those who are interested in contributing to the project.
For people interested in donating, the Octopus for Preemies project is available on Facebook and the drop off zone for crocheted items is at Estherea Women’s Wellness Clinic at 23 3rd Avenue, Westdene, Bloemfontein, 9301.
To get a copy of the pattern email octopusforpreemies@gmail.com.
