Denver Hospice Quilter Sews Together Hospice Stories
Diana Bailey has worked for The Denver Hospice for more than 20 years. She started working at the Inpatient Care Center straight out of nursing school, citing a desire to get hands-on experience interacting with patients and learning directly from other nurses.
After building a connection with The Denver Hospice community, she wanted to do something that would provide a creative outlet for patients, families and caregivers while honoring those who had passed.
She started a quilt square project, handing out blank 10-inch squares to families in their admissions package. She encouraged families to create something to honor their loved one. After gathering enough, she stitched the squares together to hang them in the hallways.
Her current quilt, however, is different. The creative spark came from practicing self-care.
Playing with patterns, colors and designs has always been relaxing for Diana, and she realized that she had an opportunity to use her relaxation time to also provide some joy to The Denver Hospice community. “My therapy when I’m not at work is playing with color,” she explained, and her quilt incorporates many different fabrics and shades.
She used the “Guardian Pattern,” which represents the staff members at the Denver Hospice who make it their life’s work to support and care for their patients. To further honor their dedication, she hand-embroidered the names of friends and family of staff members who have passed away. The more than 60 names reflect the deeply personal connection that many caregivers have with hospice care.
“We all have a personal reason for being here and doing this kind of work, and the stories behind the names explain why all of those individuals are here,” she explained. Now, the quilt hangs outside of the entrance to the Inpatient Care Center, comforting and inspiring patients and staff at The Denver Hospice.
