Talented crafter brings joy to patients with handmade hats

Patients who visit the infusion center at UCHealth Lone Tree Medical Center will notice a white basket in the lobby filled with handmade hats in a variety of shapes and colors, available to peruse and take home for free.

For the past two years, Shai Helm, medical assistant at UCHealth Lone Tree Medical Center, has been donating her hats for anyone who walks through the infusion center doors. That includes patients, family members and staff. On a weekly basis, Helm brings in 10-to-15 hats. She’s up to hundreds and counting.

Helm knows that many of the center’s patients are going through hard times. She takes extra precautions to protect vulnerable patients with compromised immune systems, individually wrapping each hat in cellophane.

“I love helping people,” Helm said. “And I thought it would be neat to see my hats go to some of our patients.”

Each handmade hat is unique, displaying various colors and a variety of patterns. Helm crochets and knits hats into messy bun beanies, pompom hats and bucket hats.

She never knows exactly why a particular hat will resonate with its new owner. Take one that she made from camouflage yarn. A male patient who enjoys hunting and often dons camouflage attire, gravitated toward that hat and took it home. According to Helm, he was “extremely appreciative and very happy.”

The gratitude she feels from patients, along with her love for the craft, is what keeps her going. She has no plans to stop anytime soon.

“If I can brighten anybody’s day by just a little, that’s what I would like to do,” said Helm.

Helm’s love for crocheting began when she was just seven years old, a skill she learned from her mom and has perfected over the years. She has since added knitting to her repertoire, using her talent to spread kindness and joy to patients.

Helm spends hours of her personal time crocheting and knitting these hats, the time she describes as “relaxing.” She often crafts while watching her favorite TV shows or listening to music, providing the perfect background noise for her work.

“It’s very soothing for me,” Helm said of crafting. “And if I can be productive with what I’m doing in my relaxing time, why not make things for other people to enjoy?”

Born and raised in Colorado, Helm loves a wide range of eclectic hobbies. She enjoys painting, square dancing and everything about horses. She is currently in the process of making a baby blanket, with her sixth grandchild on the way.