In a heartwarming tribute to her late father, Tammy Baer has turned her grief into a mission of compassion and care.
As a dedicated nurse at Huntsville Hospital, Baer is creating sensory blankets to bring comfort to Alzheimer’s patients — a deeply personal endeavor inspired by her father, Bobby Calhoun, who passed away from the disease in 2022.
WAFF 48 shared Baer’s story.
Baer’s special blankets are designed to help patients remain calm, especially during medical treatments. The blankets are adorned with zippers, bells, beads, and pockets for family notes and photographs — thoughtful details that provide both comfort and engagement for patients. Each blanket even features a “Forget Me Not” flower, a meaningful symbol of Alzheimer’s awareness, and fabric that honors her father’s service as a Vietnam War veteran.
Baer explained that the blankets are a way to remember her father and help others in similar situations. She began making blankets for the memory care facility where her father once received treatment. Seeing the positive impact, Huntsville Hospital encouraged her to continue the effort, with funding provided by the hospital’s Forget Me Not program. The program is dedicated to improving care for patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia. The Department of Veterans Affairs in Miami has also recognized the value of these blankets and purchased some for their patients.
The emotional impact of the blankets is clear. Baer noted that patients often form a deep attachment to their blankets. She recalled one patient who was devastated after their blanket was misplaced, describing it as the one thing they did not want to lose. Baer recreated the blanket based on the description to ensure the patient felt comforted once again.
In the past year, Baer and her mother have created over 500 blankets. However, with growing demand, Baer has emphasized the urgent need for volunteers to help continue the mission. She explained that with just herself and her mother sewing the blankets, they are limited in how many they can make.
Brian Baer, CEO of the Zone Foundation and a family member, praised Tammy’s dedication. He described Alzheimer’s as a terrible disease and shared how remarkable it is to see the impact of these blankets on patients, stating that he had never seen anything like it before. He emphasized that helping people through these blankets is exactly what their mission is all about, and he invited volunteers to join the effort at the foundation’s website linked above.
Baer’s heartfelt commitment has touched hundreds of lives, transforming her grief into a powerful tribute to her father’s memory. With each carefully crafted blanket, she is spreading comfort, hope, and love — one stitch at a time.
Sherri Blevins is a writer for Mountain Valley News and a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
