Photo Provided Ami Thobois, Clinical Preceptor, Surgical Oncology Services at WVU Medicine; Bonnie Brown; Teresa Brown; Aaron Cooke, Susanna McMillen, R.N., Manager, Surgical Oncology Services at WVU Medicine; Dale Childs, R.N., Manager, Surgical Oncology Services at WVU Medicine.

Teresa Brown lay in bed one night last year, while on vacation in the Amish Country, and prayed God would give her something to do to honor her late sister, Kandy Hartley, as well as a really good friend, Don Haught. Hartley had passed away in June, and Haught passed away shortly after. Both of these beloved ones passed away at WVU’s Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown. Brown wanted to do something, in memory of Hartley and Haught, to honor them.

Brown said God brought the idea to her mind to deliver blankets to cancer patients. She pondered this idea, wondering how she could make an impact. However, Brown explained, her sister was always cold when in the hospital. Thus, Brown decided to go with the idea, which she shared through social media and to her church family at Faith Fellowship in Reader. Within a few hours, Brown received an overwhelming response.

One of the responses came from the Busy Bee 4-H group, from Wetzel County. The group wanted to adopt Brown’s endeavor for a community Christmas project. The Busy Bees invited Brown to a meeting, where kids of all ages brought 36 blankets. Brown was overwhelmed by this generosity; her goal had been to get 50 blankets. In total, Brown was able to deliver 107 blankets, described by Brown as “beautiful.”

Furthermore, each blanket included a message of hope. Brown explained she wanted to put something in each blanket that would encourage each recipient. Through research online, Brown’s sister-in-law discovered the Bible verse, Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your GOD will be with you wherever you go.” Brown’s mother, who is 85, sewed the verse in each blanket. Bookmarks containing the scripture were also tied onto the blankets, using ribbon.

Upon arriving at the hospital to deliver the blankets, Brown walked into the room the patients visit to receive chemo treatments. Brown explained there were people everywhere, some in wheelchairs or on cots, receiving treatment. They each received a blanket, and Brown described how a light seemed to come on in their eyes. This reaction encouraged Brown to take on the project again next year.

She noted the remaining blankets were handed out to other cancer patients on the floor.

Brown said she had doubts when she was first getting started on this project, because she wondered how she would fund the project. However, she noted, she was able to deliver more than double of what her goal was in the first place. Brown wants to thank everyone who made this such a great success and also give God the glory for using her to be able to bless other people.