Bringing comfort and smiles, one washcloth animal at a time

At UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central, small gestures are making a big impact, thanks to a creative and compassionate nurse who found a unique way to brighten her patients’ days.

Inspired by towel animals she saw while traveling on cruise ships, Maddie Mills, who is a registered nurse, began creating adorable washcloth animals to comfort patients and lift their spirits. What began as a spontaneous act of kindness for a scared patient has grown. Bri Bridgewater, a patient care assistant who works with Mills, has helped to expand the initiative across the Medical Intensive Care Unit.

Mills came up with the idea when she noticed a patient crying and visibly anxious.

“She was really scared, and I just thought, ‘what can I do to make her feel better?’” said Mills.

A little later, Mills recalled the playful towel animals from her cruise travels and decided to re-create one.

After searching for supplies and watching a YouTube tutorial, Mills got creative. Using a washcloth, a larger towel, rubber bands, hair ties and even a leftover orange tourniquet, she constructed a 12-inch teddy bear, complete with ears and a bowtie.

Mills delivered two of the bears to the patient before a scheduled interventional radiology procedure.

“It completely changed her day,” Mills said. “She was in such a better mood.”

The bears accompanied the patient to the procedure, offering a source of comfort and distraction.

“She was holding both of her little bears, and her anxiety and fear just kind of went away,” Mills said.

For Mills, the towel animals are an extension of her dedication to patient care.

“I love all my patients and always try to go above and beyond,” she said. “If I can make their day better by making a towel animal, that’s what I’m going to do.”

Bridgewater soon joined in, inspired by Mills’ thoughtful gesture. Recently, she cared for an elderly patient who was snuggling his remote for comfort. “I thought, ‘let’s give him something else to snuggle,’” she said. Using the same technique, Bridgewater created a towel bear and presented it to him.

She later had another patient with cerebral palsy.

“Their mom cried when I brought it in there,” Bridgewater said.

The bear remained by the patient’s side for the rest of the week

“I like to make patients feel special,” Bridgewater said. “My background in pediatrics taught me the importance of comfort and compassion, and I’ve found that bringing those same principles into adult care helps me build meaningful connections with my patients.”

In the intensive care unit, focus is often on critical medical care; opportunities for emotional connections can be limited. But Mills believes it’s just as essential.

“It’s not super common that we get awake patients that we get to comfort,” said Mills. “And I think it’s good to find a way to provide emotional support in addition to the physical support. I’m seeing you as a patient and I’m seeing you as a person, too.”

Indeed, Mills and Bridgewater are bringing comfort and joy to patients when they need it most, one cuddly towel animal at a time.