Tarentaal resident honoured for 10 years of knitting blankets for babies
There is the reward of knowing a baby is going to feel some warmth because of a blanket that I knit,”
For the past decade, Tarentaal retirement village resident Carla Fasold has knitted blankets and other items to spread warmth and comfort to vulnerable babies.
To acknowledge her effort over the years, Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital recently presented Carla with a certificate of gratitude.
The certificate reads: “You have wrapped our tiniest patients in love.”
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Motivated by a desire to help those less fortunate, Carla Fasold spends close to five hours a day knitting.
Carla, who self-funds the wool, spends approximately R1500 every two months. She uses the wool to primarily knit blankets, as well as a few jerseys and sensory blankets.
Her mother taught her to knit and crochet when she was nine years old.
Carla moved to Tarentaal in 2017.
The following year, her son-in-law, who was the specialist in charge of the paediatric unit at the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, brought the plight of its tiny patients to Carla’s attention.
Many of the babies come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and their families need all the help they can get in caring for them.
“Knitting helps to keep my brain stimulated and fends off boredom.
“But more than that, there is the reward of knowing a baby is going to feel some warmth because of a blanket that I knit,” said Carla.
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Carla said being shown around the hospital’s neonatal unit is a memory she will never forget.
She said seeing the babies who would receive her blankets gave even greater meaning to her work and strengthened her determination to continue.
Carla believes it is important for people to find activities that bring them joy and a sense of purpose.
For her, knitting for vulnerable babies provides both, while also allowing her to make a practical difference in the lives of others.
She encourages her fellow Tarentaal residents to consider becoming involved in causes or outreach projects that are meaningful to them.
