Anthem club partners with hospice program

Sun City Anthem Sewing and Quilting Club members are actively assisting families in crises, specifically those with infants suffering a terminal illness. The members' compassion benefits everyone involved, according to Karen Goodsell, a registered nurse at Nathan Adelson Hospice and founder of the Butterfly Kids program.

"Parents and siblings need help when a baby dies," Goodsell said. "That's not the way life is set up ... parents don't expect to outlive their children."

Butterfly Kids provides volunteers for counseling and baby-sitting. In addition, club members assemble a memory box for the families following the death of the infant.

"In the memory box is a baby blanket, stuffed animal, flower vase, a camera, the baby's hospital bracelet, footprint, handprint and lock of hair," said Nancy Rahn, a volunteer at the hospice and a member of the Sewing Club. "The club is making 100 baby blankets for these families this year, and Del Webb Corporation has donated a special embroidery machine to include the butterfly design on the blankets."

Mary Ann Brim, club president, said the members are delighted to assist.

"Our aim is to contribute something to the community that we make with our own hands. Being able to embroider the butterfly design through Del Webb's generous donation makes the baby blankets a beautiful addition to the memory boxes and the Butterfly Kids program," Brim said.

While some of the patients are preschoolers and adolescents, most are younger than three months.

"We try to give more life to their time left, rather than concentrate on the dying," Goodsell said. "We also use pet therapy, aroma therapy and water therapy for patients."

The Sewing and Quilting Club is housed in Anthem Center, where fitness, social and recreational opportunities are available to residents. Trumpets Restaurant and Lounge, which is open to the public, is also located within the center.

Sun City Anthem offers 19 models, ranging from 1,080 to 3,009 square feet. Homes are priced from the mid-$140,000s to more than $500,000.

To visit the model village, take Eastern Avenue south to Anthem Parkway, turn left, drive about 1 1/4 miles to Alexandria Drive and turn right. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.

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