102-Year-Old Woman Brings Comfort to Kids in the Hospital

By Mike Bush

KSDK -- At St. Louis Children's Hospital, the best medicine does not always come in a bottle.

On a recent morning, Dr. Michael DeBaun was prescribing warmth, delivering a new blanket to four-year-old Shantana Wilkins and to every one of his patients fighting sickle cell disease.

"Children with sickle cell disease are predisposed to having significant problems and pain when they get cold," said Dr. DeBaun.

There are enough blankets to get all the children through the winter and each one was made not by hand, but by heart. Corrinne Fick started the project at the suggestion of her physical therapist.

"She thought they'd be good for my fingers; it'd keep them loosened up," she said.

Corrinne admits that she's not as nimble as she used to be, but that'll happen when you're 102-years-old.

"I'll be 103 in November," Fick said.

Fick has been sewing since she was eight-years-old. Her children and grandchildren never had to spend too much time in clothing stores.

"I didn't own a pair of blue jeans," said Terry Rhodes, Fick's granddaughter. "My first pair of blue jeans is when I was 16, because she made all our clothes because you know you don't wear blue jeans cause you're a lady."

When they found out there was a need for the blankets, it became a family enterprise.

"It makes me feel good to know that. That I'm doing good and that they can use them, you know," said Fick.

Back at Children's Hospital, with every blanket, it's almost as if Corrinne's arms are wrapped around each child.

"It's absolutely one of my favorite duties," said Dr. DeBaun, "to hand out a blanket and watch the smile on a child's face."

As one woman shows, you're never too old to make a difference with a little warmth and a lot of love.