Having a sick child in the hospital is every mother’s worst nightmare.
Often, parents feel helpless as they watch their precious child go through unthinkable pain while doctors work around the clock hoping to get them well.
And when one dad visited his friend’s sick child at the hospital – it hit him so personally he decided to do something about it.
To start with, a hospital can be a scary place for anyone – especially children.
All of the loud machines can be intimidating.
And the rooms themselves are white and bare.
Children who are sick are already scared, and the atmosphere of a sterile hospital room can make things even more terrifying.
Not to mention, children often feel lonely and bored – on top of already not feeling good.
So when Kevin Gatlin visited his friend’s child in the hospital and saw the sick child in a room with bland white sheets and nothing to help ease his boredom – he decided he never wanted another child to experience that feeling again.
A brilliant entrepreneur, Gatlin had the idea to create bedsheets that were interactive – actually having the sheets serve as a board game so children could play and have fun while in the hospital!
Sheets included everything from giant checkerboards to interactive maps – all in bright and vibrant colors.
Knowing children love to be entertained and play games –this sweet and brilliant idea is just a little way to help children pass the time while in the hospital.
Scary Mommy reported:
“We put together bedsheets and slumber bags that cover everything from Geography, Math, Science, Grammar, word find games, over-sized game boards… all on a three-piece set,” he explains…
And enjoying those interactive sheets doesn’t have to end when the child is discharged from the hospital. Often, the kids are allowed to take them home. “They don’t go right back to school,” Gatlin says. “So it gives them something to do while they’re at home as well.”
Individuals can purchase these playtime bed sheets and donate them to hospitals.
Currently the website has for every home purchase, an additional sheet set will be donated to a hospital!
God bless Kevin Gatlin for thinking of the children!
Often times it’s kids who slip through the cracks.
Other adults have realized this, and created sensory friendly rooms for children at hospitals.
For parents who are already feeling the stress of having a sick child in the hospital, small acts of kindness like these can be a small beacon of life to remind them people do care.
Hopefully one day, every hospital will be sensitive to the needs of a child – and realize recovery is more than just body – it’s mind and spirit too.
And with all the craziness in the world, it’s refreshing to know there are still acts of kindness from strangers who want to make the world a little bit softer for those in need.
To stay current on the latest Mommy Underground stories, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and be sure to like and share our posts!