I'm filling in for her because Sherri is busy being a humanitarian
making face masks for individuals and for medical personnel. So far she has
made several hundred (this is literal and not exaggeration). Due to the
shortage of medical masks, Sherri has stepped up to, rather sat down at, her sewing machines and is
sewing as fast as she can. Her face mask project has taken over her home.
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| A small sample of those she's sewn. |
During normal times, Sherri is
never idle. She uses her master’s degree in finance as project manager for an
aerospace company. In her spare time, she has a couple of Etsy shops where she
sells the sewing projects she enjoys making. She’s also a mom and grandmother
who enjoys family and her dogs and cats. On top of that, she is a writer
working on her second romance novel. Whew! This lady needs to take a deep
breath!
She
said, “I chatted with an OBGYN nurse who said she’s been using the same paper
mask for two weeks—a nursing home where staff gets one N95 respirator for this
whole pandemic and a surgical clinic where they are saving their N95s for
surgery and need something for day to day. These are the people I have donated
to. Every clinic and nursing home is desperate for masks if you can make them.”
She
didn’t leap into this service blindly. Wouldn’t you know a smart girl like her
would read the directions first?
“I researched for days before finally deciding if
someone was asking - I would provide.”
The CDC says:
HCP use of homemade masks:
In settings where facemasks are not available, HCP might use homemade masks (e.g., bandana, scarf) for care of patients with COVID-19 as a last resort. However, homemade masks are not considered PPE, since their capability to protect HCP is unknown. Caution should be exercised when considering this option. Homemade masks should ideally be used in combination with a face shield that covers the entire front (that extends to the chin or below) and sides of the face.
In settings where facemasks are not available, HCP might use homemade masks (e.g., bandana, scarf) for care of patients with COVID-19 as a last resort. However, homemade masks are not considered PPE, since their capability to protect HCP is unknown. Caution should be exercised when considering this option. Homemade masks should ideally be used in combination with a face shield that covers the entire front (that extends to the chin or below) and sides of the face.
“I am telling individuals though- they are ineffective without a filter and
they should research! There is research that using a HEPA AC filter or vacuum
cleaner bag will help with the home face mask blocking as much as 90%- .”
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| “Going to make a filter for my personal mask - they have a pocket-just buy the ac filter and tear it apart then cut out what you need- should make several.” |
Elastic melts in an autoclave—many smaller
organizations do not have autoclaves. These are requested by health care
professionals who do not care if there elastic or ties. When they are low on masks elastic is better than NOTHING, which is what they will have soon.
Health care professionals seem to know what they
need. Most are wearing these over the respirators, since they are in short
supply and hoping to extend the life of the respirator.
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| The sewing room |
The only unique request she’s had was, "Can I
have something manly?"
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| A couple of Sherri's Etsy crafts made from a child's favorite outgrown tee-shirt |
Are you feeling trapped while shut in, depressed because you can’t do
anything, or bored? Remember, you can order supplies online and receive them by
mail. Check with weneedmasks.org to see where you can take those you make if
you aren’t sure of a place to donate.
By the way, if you haven’t read Sherri’s book, why not? A LOVE TO CALL MY OWN is available in e-book and print and is free in KU at https://www.amazon.com/Love-Call-My-Own-ebook/dp/B07ZL6D7BM
When
unexpected tragedy strikes in 1942, Grace Daniels suddenly finds herself responsible
for supporting her Mama and five siblings. Living in a two-room house in the
wild and savage bottomland of East Texas makes that task more difficult.
Grace makes a plan and sets out to accomplish her goals for a better life. As with all good plans, destiny and fate intervene.
Morris Embrey lived in the city all his life and came from a
successful family. He has no idea what It’s like to be poor or hungry. He is
filling in as deputy for his uncle, the sheriff, when he first sees Grace.
A series of events bring them together, but with her papa a
bootlegger and Morris a lawman, can their relationship survive? Only time
will tell.
Photos from Sherri's Facebook pages.
"A Love to Call My Own," sounds like a wonderful read. But your dedication to making the masks for our workers on the front line of this pandemic is remarkable. Thank you! Be safe.
ReplyDeleteOMG- Here is it nearly 2 years later and I am just now reading this! I am still not done with that second book but very very close <3
ReplyDelete