The first time, he didn’t even know how to sew.
For every child Dr. Erik Bostrom delivers, he sews a personalized blanket, embroidered with the baby’s name, birthday, weight, and height.
As a young new doctor in Aitkin, Minnesota, Bostrom began making the blankets to attract new patients and to make them feel more comfortable with “the new guy.” When a nurse first suggested sewing blankets, Bostrom was at a loss; he had never sewed anything before. Thankfully, his sister-in-law stepped in to teach him. “It actually isn’t nearly as hard as I would have thought,” he said.
Two years in and the tradition is going strong. Lacie Hietalati, a patient and new mom, said, “It’s a beautiful blanket. It’s something she’ll cherish her entire life. He takes the extra time out of his busy schedule to do this for his patients. That’s a lot.”
