Huntsville Hospital Foundation

The “Sew Healing” Program began in 2001 as a volunteer sewing activity for participants of Huntsville Hospital’s “Senior Horizons.” That year, volunteer senior citizens sewed and stuffed heart-shaped pillows designed to assist heart surgery patients.  The positive physical and emotional benefits for both patients and our seniors were undeniable, and the program soon exploded in popularity.

Now approximately 35 Sew Healing volunteers meet in the Sew Healing office – a specially-designated area on the hospital property – every Monday morning at 8:00-Noon.

Sew Healing volunteers make therapeutic “Sew Healing” pillows, including: Mended Heart shaped pillows for patients recovering from open heart surgery; Surgery pillows for patients recovering from abdominal surgeries, “Smiley Face” pillows for pediatric patients and expectant mothers hospitalized on bed-rest; Pink, Heart-Shaped pillows for mastectomy patients to name just a few. More than 100,000 pillows have been given to patients since the program’s inception in 2001! We average approximately 5,500 gift pillows created and delivered to patients every year!

Sharon Darty, who has managed the Sew Healing volunteer program for many years, shared with us, “So few people have family or friends willing to ‘walk the road’ beside them when they experience a serious health problem or crisis. Patient visits provided by our Hospital volunteers, combined with the love and care that goes into our hand-made, therapeutic pillows, made by volunteers is one way we can participate in the healing process. If healing is not possible, the patient knows someone cares about them and wants to provide comfort.”