I will never tire of watching Simone Biles' incredible double double beam dismount and triple twisting double tuck from the US National Championships.
Have you not seen? Check out the link below. I'll wait.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWaQeUIjaSw
I take pride and pleasure in her success, even when I don't know her. I had no role in her journey. She is not from my city or my state. I am not a gymnast or a sportsperson. But as a fellow American, I celebrate her achievements. Can you relate?
So when America is responsible for deaths of innocent children in custody, why aren't more of us filled with shame and disgust? I am saddened and angered by the loss of innocent lives.
Just as Simone Biles' achievement must be celebrated, so also this meaningless loss of lives must be called out as a cruel mistreatment.
When Sarah mentioned Socorro Foundation, I knew just how to channel my grief and anger.
I made six quilts, one each in the memory of children who died in the custody of Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
For Wilmer and Jakelin, I chose 9-patch blocks alternated with animal panels (bear hugs). And although they look similar the layout, the backing and the bindings are different.
Jakelin Amei Rosmery Caal Maquin, a seven-year old, died in December 2018 in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Jakelin died from cardiac arrest caused by severe dehydration and shock a day after she and her father turned themselves in to CBP on the U.S.-Mexico border in New Mexico.
Darlyn Valle, 10, died in September 2018, after entering Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) custody. The girl entered ORR custody on March 2018 as a medically fragile child with a history of congenital heart defects. Darlyn underwent a surgical procedure at a facility in Arizona and complications later left her in a coma. She was then taken to Nebraska, just three days before her death, in an effort to reunite her with her mother. She died due to fever and respiratory distress, ORR said.
For Darlyn, I used strips from a Moda Scrap Bag with Sundrops fabric line by Corey Yoder.
When making a pieced backing with two fabrics, I aim for a four patch rather than just two columns of fabric. It is one more cut and on more seam but the 4-patch layout looks better.
Felipe Gómez Alonzo, 8, was held in CBP custody for nearly one week before he died in December 2018. Medical investigators later determined the boy had been suffering from the flu while he was under the agency’s care.
Cute animal prints, cut into 5" squares with a bright yellow background for a Disappearing Nine Patch was my choice for Felipe.
A large four-patch pieced backing in shades of yellow matches the yellows on the front.
Juan de León Gutiérrez, 16, died of health complications under ORR care in April 2019
after officials at a detention facility in Texas noticed he was sick.
For Juan, I chose cute animal prints with white/neutral backgrounds. That is why I chose bright red, blue and green for the other squares in the D9P pattern.
Carlos Hernandez Vásquez, 16, was taken into custody after crossing the southern border in Texas' Rio Grande Valley on May 13, 2019, among a group of 70 people. He was held at a processing facility for six days before being transferred to the Border Patrol station in Weslaco, Texas, where he died hours after a nurse determined he had the Influenza A virus.
For Carlos, I chose a starry pattern with turquoise and purple fabrics.
After all the quilts were completed and photographed I was ready to send them. But something was missing. And then I knew.
I labelled them with the children's names, before sending to Socorro Foundation, hoping they would provide some measure of comfort to those who use them.
I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar. As usual I'd love to hear from you. A comment from you is like a warm hug and I could use some hugs at this time.
Have you not seen? Check out the link below. I'll wait.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWaQeUIjaSw
I take pride and pleasure in her success, even when I don't know her. I had no role in her journey. She is not from my city or my state. I am not a gymnast or a sportsperson. But as a fellow American, I celebrate her achievements. Can you relate?
So when America is responsible for deaths of innocent children in custody, why aren't more of us filled with shame and disgust? I am saddened and angered by the loss of innocent lives.
Just as Simone Biles' achievement must be celebrated, so also this meaningless loss of lives must be called out as a cruel mistreatment.
 |
| Picture from "Close the Camps" |
When Sarah mentioned Socorro Foundation, I knew just how to channel my grief and anger.
I made six quilts, one each in the memory of children who died in the custody of Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Wilmer Josué Ramírez Vásquez, a 2½-year-old, died in May 2019 after being detained by Border Patrol in early April and spending about a month in a hospital, where he was diagnosed with pneumonia.
For Wilmer and Jakelin, I chose 9-patch blocks alternated with animal panels (bear hugs). And although they look similar the layout, the backing and the bindings are different.
 |
| Wilmer (left) and Jakelin (right) |
Jakelin Amei Rosmery Caal Maquin, a seven-year old, died in December 2018 in the custody of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Jakelin died from cardiac arrest caused by severe dehydration and shock a day after she and her father turned themselves in to CBP on the U.S.-Mexico border in New Mexico.
Darlyn Valle, 10, died in September 2018, after entering Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) custody. The girl entered ORR custody on March 2018 as a medically fragile child with a history of congenital heart defects. Darlyn underwent a surgical procedure at a facility in Arizona and complications later left her in a coma. She was then taken to Nebraska, just three days before her death, in an effort to reunite her with her mother. She died due to fever and respiratory distress, ORR said.
For Darlyn, I used strips from a Moda Scrap Bag with Sundrops fabric line by Corey Yoder.
Once the top was complete, it looked subdued and I wanted to brighten it. A green border did just that. A peach/coral binding brings everything together.
When making a pieced backing with two fabrics, I aim for a four patch rather than just two columns of fabric. It is one more cut and on more seam but the 4-patch layout looks better.
Felipe Gómez Alonzo, 8, was held in CBP custody for nearly one week before he died in December 2018. Medical investigators later determined the boy had been suffering from the flu while he was under the agency’s care.
Cute animal prints, cut into 5" squares with a bright yellow background for a Disappearing Nine Patch was my choice for Felipe.
A large four-patch pieced backing in shades of yellow matches the yellows on the front.
Juan de León Gutiérrez, 16, died of health complications under ORR care in April 2019
after officials at a detention facility in Texas noticed he was sick.
For Juan, I chose cute animal prints with white/neutral backgrounds. That is why I chose bright red, blue and green for the other squares in the D9P pattern.
Carlos Hernandez Vásquez, 16, was taken into custody after crossing the southern border in Texas' Rio Grande Valley on May 13, 2019, among a group of 70 people. He was held at a processing facility for six days before being transferred to the Border Patrol station in Weslaco, Texas, where he died hours after a nurse determined he had the Influenza A virus.
For Carlos, I chose a starry pattern with turquoise and purple fabrics.
 |
| Darlyn, Juan, Felipe (top row), Jakelin, Carlos, and Wilmer (bottom row) |
 |
| Labels |
 |
| Jakelin |
 |
| Wilmer |
 |
| Felipe |
 |
| Juan |
 |
| Darlyn |
 |
| Carlos |
I labelled them with the children's names, before sending to Socorro Foundation, hoping they would provide some measure of comfort to those who use them.
 |
| All my children |
 |
| Be safe |
I will be sharing with all my favorite linky parties. See full list on the sidebar. As usual I'd love to hear from you. A comment from you is like a warm hug and I could use some hugs at this time.
Maybe people should come here LEGALLY, follow the LAWS, and respect our CONSTITUTION.
ReplyDeleteWell, Anonymous, maybe you should have more EMPATHY, instead of posting a hateful comment after reading a loving and caring post by someone who reacted with LOVE.
DeleteBeautiful quilts Preeti! I know they will bring comfort to the children who receive them.
Dear Anonymous, coming to the country's border and asking for asylum is legal. Not resisting arrest when apprehended by border patrol agents and taken into custody is following the law. Whether they respect the constitution or not - you do not know.
DeleteEven if a person is unlawful, enters the country illegally and is ignorant of the Constitution, they deserve due process of the law. They do not deserve to die from mistreatment and neglect. That (my American, legal, law-abiding, Constitution-respecting Anonymous reader) is respecting our Constitution. I'd be happy to engage with you in a conversation, if you choose to stop being Anonymous.
Anonymous: grow a heart.
DeleteWhen someone posts an anonymous, it’s rather clear that they know their position is one for which they should be ashamed. Besides being totally ignorant about our asylum laws - which our own president chooses to ignore - your heartless condoning of the deaths of the children disgusts me. Go crawl back under your rock.
Delete1. From our nation's earliest history, this country was "founded" by European immigrants who came here illegally and really DID rape and kill the native population and take everything from them... When Europe sent those 15th century "explorers," they "weren't sending their best," as our President would say. They sent "their rapists, murderers... and I suppose a few good people," along with smallpox and other diseases that wiped out whole communities of people who had lived in what we now know as the United States for generations and generations.
Delete2. Our own President, most of our congressmen and most of our corporate leaders break our nation's laws on a regular basis, whenever they can get away with it, and only pretend to "respect our Constitution" when it's convenient for them politically.
3. See Preeti's response above -- under current U.S. Law, refugees who come to the U.S. seeking asylum ARE "coming to this country legally." You, and so many other cowardly anonymous trolls out there, are spouting off about a Constitution that you have probably never read and laws you've never bothered to learn about.
4. If we really want to "make America great again," we need to at least aspire to high moral standards and basic human decency. What has happened to these children and to their families in U.S. custody is a disgrace and a dark stain on our nation's history.
I love the scalloped quilting design you have used
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteOh Preeti! What a heart you have... and what a wonderful way to remember those short lives - and help their memory live on. And thank you for highlighting this organization.. I will join you and send in some pillowcases - Hugs to you my friend.
ReplyDeleteSix beautiful quilts, Preeti. I love the fabrics you use and the simple and fun patterns. Thanks for the heads up on Socorro foundation. I have a couple of baby quilts I can finish and send them. Preeti, I always love your bold and compassionate posts.
ReplyDeleteKudos to you for those six memory quilts -- I've gathered the info from Sarah's post and will start making pillowcases (which the children can keep as their own). Every kindness matters!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your story of compassion. I loved your photo of you holding the quilts and holding the memory of these children.
ReplyDeleteWhat a meaningful way to channel our shared grief and outrage by paying it forward into something comforting to others. Thank you for highlighting the quilting community's response to injustice in your posts. Don't ever shy away from your compassion and beliefs!
ReplyDeleteYour posts are always so meaningful, but this one really tugged at my heart strings. What a wonderful gesture, Preeti.
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful quilts you've made for such a worthy cause. I know you poured your heart and soul into them. I'd tell you to ignore the ignorant anonymous commenter but I also know that would be impossible for such a kind person as you. There many of us out here who admire your compassion.
ReplyDeletePat
Bless you for your compassion and kindness. The fact that you channeled your anger and frustration into such beauty, both words and quilts, is such an example for all of us.
ReplyDeleteOh, Preeti, this nearly made me cry, What lovely little quilts from a lovely person. (Just so everyone knows, the Socorro Foundation also has a charity wish list on Amazon.)
ReplyDeleteWow, the depths of your love and compassion never fail to amaze me. The quilts are happy and sweet, as I’m sure the children who inspired them once were. It’s sad that there are those who are so filled with anger and self-righteousness that they would brush off these needless deaths. Or worse, that they would imply they were deserved because of some distorted political viewpoint.
ReplyDeleteThanks for highlighting this Foundation. I agree with you that these children should not die in our custody. We should be doing better.
ReplyDeleteYou have an amazing heart and it always responds through your hands. Was not familiar with the foundation. Thanks for showing us how to create kindness.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful made with a loving heart!
ReplyDeleteShould read.. Beautiful quilts made with a loving heart!
DeleteSo sad for those children. So beautiful what you have done in memory of them.
ReplyDeletePreeti, your quilts are so thoughtful and your post so very thought provoking. Your quilty hugs will be so appreciated by children who need them.
ReplyDeleteOh Preeti - your heart is so huge. I love the meaning that was quilted into each of these gifts. What a kind quilter you are.
ReplyDeleteI do feel ashamed of our country. You have made such beautiful quilts that serve as a great tribute to the lives of these children, and your post is very moving as well. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi Preeti! Thank you for sharing this story with us again, as I missed it when Sarah shared it. There are always haters but I find it amusing that they have to hide behind anonymous. No, you wouldn't want to man/woman up and take replies directed at you - it's much better to hide. Yes, I am ashamed of our country that would allow these children to die at our hands. Such wonderful quilts you've made to honor them and I am certain they will bring great comfort to their loved ones. You're such a kind person. {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne
ReplyDeleteAwesome collection of quilts - they'll love them!
ReplyDeleteA beautiful collection of quilts Preeti, so very sad to read about these children. You are a very generous warm hearted person.
ReplyDeleteWow. I am sorry someone chose hatred and fear over compassion. Your quilts are a beautiful way to make a small difference. Keep up your good works!
ReplyDeleteOh my. This was a difficult post to get through-heartbreaking actually. What a wonderful idea to make those quilts for others but dedicate them to those children. Thank you for just being you. mary
ReplyDeleteLove your quilts and what a good initiative! greeting from Alkmaar Holland
ReplyDeleteSuch a tragedy! What a wonderful response you have made in those beautiful quilts! thank you, and thanks for your inspiration.
ReplyDeleteA very useful channel for the anger and frustration. You created beautiful things for others.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful quilts. Beautiful children. May we all learn to live in love and peace!
ReplyDeleteHi Preeti what beautiful quilts you have made ,children are so precious ,your post was so sad,sending you a big hug xx
ReplyDeleteSuch a sad reason to make such beautiful quilts. They will be treasured by their recipients.
ReplyDeletePreeti, your quilts are beautiful, but your heart even more so. I agree with you, this illegal detention is horrific. It makes me ashamed to be an American.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Preeti, for honoring these dear children. My heart breaks for their families. You inspire us all to follow your example.
ReplyDeleteHello Pretti: First, I am only commenting as Anonmous because I cannot figure out to the google thing! Thank you so much for this post. So many of yours get me thinking about what is or should be important in our lives. I first heard of Socorro from Sarah's post. I then spent an afternoon making pillowcases, which actually are quick easy and fun. I have been working on our addictive Sister blocks this past week and am thinking a few stitched together would make a nice little quilt. We all need to stand up for what we believe and remember to VOTE!!
ReplyDeleteI've heard about the awful treatment of the children, being separated from their parents and such but I didn't hear about any of them dying. I think it's a wonderful thing you did, creating quilts in honour of the children.
ReplyDeleteYou have a heart of gold! Without compassion, empathy and love we don't stand a chance. I wish and hope more people become engaged in exactly what is happing with families who are seeking asylum, but not just on this issue...every issue the current administration is trying to thrust upon us. Vote, vote, vote!
ReplyDeleteYou are an inspiration, Preeti, for all that is good and just. Thanks for sharing your beautiful post. Hugs my friend.
ReplyDeleteSo incredibly sad that there is the need for you to make these beautiful and thoughtful quilts. What an awesome tribute to these children. You have such a kind and thoughtful heart, Preeti. Sending you hugs.
ReplyDeleteOh, Preeti -- what a wonderful tribute. May your compassion be an inspiration. May we know better and do better. [And, p.s. I was looking for more of the black/bright striped/dotted fabric this afternoon. :)]
ReplyDeletePreeti, it is heart breaking that children are being separated from their parents and dying! I am so ashamed of how the US is handling illegal immigrants. Our country is made up of many immigrants. Unless someone is a native American, we all came from another country. I know we can't take in everyone that wants to immigrate to the US, but separating children from their families goes against everything I believe in as an American and as a Christian. We all need to be weeping about this and we need to stand up and say NO. Thank you for putting faces and names to this issue. Thank you for making such pretty quilts to comfort other kids. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI love how you are able to work through the grief and despair of current events with fabric, in a way that passes on healing and love to those who need it.
ReplyDeleteIt is so awful that these children died under our care—or lack of care. So it is touching and humbling that you are celebrating their lives by making and naming quilts in their honor that will bring joy and comfort to other children who have an opportunity for much better care. We can’t undo the wrong, but I’m so thankful for everyone working for the greater good at the border. And for quilters like you who not only make beautiful quilts, but so succinctly get to the heart of the issue. Every piece of these quilts is amazing, and I wish with all my heart that none of them had to be made.
ReplyDeleteYou are an inspiration. It is one thing to be saddened by events and quite something else to get up and do something to help.
ReplyDeleteBRAVO! Inspiring.... must now make a few myself. On to check Sarah's post.
ReplyDeleteI am only posting as anonymous as I don't know how else to do this. Preeti, I think you have a good heart. I would only caution everyone to be careful with your judgements. As a retired pediatric nurse of over 30 years, I can tell you that children get sick so much faster than adults and even if they get care immediately, they can quickly succumb to serious illness. I place blame on the "coyotes" in these foreign countries who promise all kinds of false hope on these people who are looking for a better life. The extreme walk on these caravans are too much for children who arrive in this country already too sick to save in many cases. Yes, it is so sad but be very careful in your judgement in who is to blame.
ReplyDeleteThese quilts are beautiful, I remember opening them up as they arrived and thinking to myself what a beautiful way to honor the lives lost. You have used your talents to express love to those who have been rejected and we at The Socorro Foundation are very thankful!!! We appreciate you and we wanted you to know. This was my first time reading the blog post, thank you for taking the time to share their story and creating such a beautiful honor of life. Sincerely, Anamichelle with The Socorro Foundation
ReplyDeleteSweet quilts and sweeter the thought behind them. The situation is so very sad and I am glad you are able to channel that depth of emotion into some action.
ReplyDelete