Creating comfort: Canby woman offers beauty in midst of tragedy

It’s hard to know what a parent feels when their infant child dies and their left to pick up the pieces.

And in that moment, Sassie O’Sullivan hopes she can bring a little light into the darkness they must be feeling. For the last three years the Canby resident has been making pint-sized cocoons, blankets and caps for preemie and still borns for families at Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel in Portland.

It’s a task she does with joy in her heart and a hope that it brings some level of comfort for the family.

“I wanted to comfort the parents. I know the baby has gone to heaven,” said O’Sullivan. “But I wanted this to be more a comfort for the parents, want them to see something pretty on their baby before it goes into the coffin.”

And O’Sullivan, who said that medical issues have essentially tied her to her home most of the time, does get out on Tuesdays as part of a crafters group. But whether at home or at the Canby Adult Center, she’s focused on bringing comfort in the wake of losing a child.

“About three years ago I realized that Randall Children’s Hospital was available to us, and I already had a tendency to make baby blankets and give them to friends,” O’Sullivan explained. “I can crochet fairly quickly and was interested in doing things that are different.”

A call to Randall Children’s Hospital got them interested in what she was doing and from that interest, O’Sullivan delivers a carload of cocoons, blankets and caps twice a year to the hospital.

“I brought them a carload of all kinds of baby things I had made,” O’Sullivan explained of the first meeting. “Then, I just concentrated on the little baby cocoons. After a time, they asked for little, tiny hats that are adjustable to go with the blankets and cocoons. Sometimes it’s a challenge to make them so tiny and beautiful at the same time. But it’s exciting.

“God has inspired me to make these things using different yarns and designs,” she added. “When folks learn I’m doing this, at times I find a large bag of yarn on my back porch. It just arrives anonymously from time to time.”

O’Sullivan, who is approaching 80, said she believes it’s important to keep the mind busy. And with that, making sure you’re making a difference.

“I think serving is important. Serving on some level keeps you in that humanity realm,” she said. “The satisfaction in knowing that you are helping puts a smile on your heart. I’m so grateful to have something to do that is meaningful, stimulating and serves these families that are going through these terrible situations.”