When patient E. Jay Greger was nearing death after sudden cardiac arrest, her family gathered lovingly around her to say their heartfelt goodbyes. A vibrantly colored hand-crafted quilt was placed gently on the bed as the family drew near. With this simple gesture, medical technology that could no longer sustain E. Jay’s life receded into the background, and E. Jay herself and her devoted family came fully into focus.

E.Jay's husband Len, her soulmate of 60 years, recalls:

“That is the last view I had of her; lying under the companion quilt. Here at home, it provides a sense of her presence to me and my family. This quilt will forever be that presence, and it is helping me to come to a stage of peace.”

Each year the companion quilt program provides handmade quilts that are placed on the beds of terminally ill patients in the hospital. The family is welcome to take the quilt home as a loving keepsake after their loved one dies. Every quilt is a gift of love, and offers incalculable comfort to patients and their loved ones during this sacred time.

If you or a group you know would like to contribute a quilt,or quilts, to this program,  please call the Center for Ethics in Health Care at 503-494-4466 or feel free to email us at ethics@ohsu.edu.

Thank you to all of those who have contributed to the OHSU companion quilts program. We are forever grateful.