[A nurse placing a blue amigurumi octopus beside a newborn at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan NICU]
Joelle Haley (interview): “They are amigurumi, it’s the type of crochet. And the octopi, the tentacles, the babies grab onto them so that they’re not grabbing their breathing and their feeding tubes or IVs and wires. It just helps keep them safe.”
[A nurse placing an amigurumi octopus with a newborn]
Joelle Haley (interview): “I had heard a nurse mention that they wished that they had some here, and I asked what she meant out of curiosity. And since I crochet myself, I was like, ‘I can help with that. I’ll find a pattern.’ And I posted on a Facebook page and had a lot of people reach out—more than I expected.”
[Joelle Haley presenting a basket filled with amigurumi to the nurses]
[Baby sleeping next to a blue amigurumi]
[Two parents and a nurse looking at an infant grasping an amigurumi]
Joelle Haley (interview): “It helps me feel comforted that I was able to help other children. Seeing my son with his helps me know that he’ll be safe and comforted when I’m not here. So, I hope it brings that same feeling to other families.”
[Haley crocheting at the NICU]
Dr. Jorge Lua (interview): “Some babies will have security blankets. Our babies will have the octopi to keep them cuddled and make them more secure, decrease the anxiety on the part of the baby.”
[Haley walking down the hospital hallway with a basket of amigurumi]
[A nurse holding up one of the amigurumi octopi]
Joelle Haley (interview): “At the beginning, it was very hard to leave my son here, knowing he was in good hands even, because I was afraid what if he’s upset and he has nothing or no one to comfort him in that moment. So, just knowing he has something near him that brings him comfort helps me feel better.”
[A nurse and a new mom standing near the baby and the blue amigurumi]
This script was provided by The Associated Press.