ESCC Phi Theta Kappa Creates Octopi for NICU
Kristi Peters, Mathematics Instructor and Advisor for Phi Theta Kappa at Enterprise State Community College, was asked to make a few crocheted octopus toys for some gift baskets being created by a church in Malvern, AL. for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Children’s Hospital of Alabama. Ms. Peters agreed and asked her Phi Theta Kappa members at ESCC to help produce tiny octopi. The students knew nothing of the significance of the toys but eagerly began crocheting. During the journey they began to look into the benefits of the stuffed toys and found that many NICU babies cannot have any physical contact with their parents. The octopus is placed in the bed with the baby and it seems that suddenly heart rates stabilize, oxygen levels increase, and breathing steadies.
One of the babies to visit Children’s of Alabama was Charles Lucas from Malvern, AL. He was airlifted to Birmingham, AL. but he could not be saved. His mother, Emily Richards, began Luke’s Legacy to honor her child’s life and bring comfort to families waiting in the hospital. She is planning to deliver 48 gift baskets, one for every bed in the NICU, on December 20, 2017. She wants to incorporate items that the family will need during their stay in the hospital and a tiny octopus for the baby.
On Tuesday, October 17, 2017 at 6:00pm in the Community Room at Enterprise State Community College, Mrs. Richards will be talking about Luke’s Legacy and how we can help. If you can crochet or knit and would like to learn more about PTK’s octopus project or if you would like to make a donation to the gift baskets please join us on October 17th. You can also get more information through email at ptk@escc.edu or you can contact Ms. Kristi Peters at kpeters@escc.edu.
Cutline: Amanda Thomas and Dallas Choate, Enterprise State Community College students from Enterprise, A