The Gift Shop at Skagit Valley Hospital donated one dozen 3-in-1 plush animal/blanket/pillow sets to the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) team for use by pediatric patients. This was an in-kind donation of merchandise by the Gift Shop under the endorsement of the Skagit Valley Hospital Guild Advisory Board.

The donation came at the request from the SANE team for comfort and aftercare items for their patients needing a forensic exam. The animal/blanket/pillow sets will be provided to pediatric patients needing an exam while seeking care at Skagit Valley Hospital.

The SANE team performs forensic exams to pediatric, adolescent and adult patients seeking care for assault and/or abuse. Their evidence collections are then submitted to the Washington State Crime Laboratory for processing. These specially trained registered nurses are employed at Skagit Valley Hospital and provide trauma-informed care to each patient not only to collect evidence, but also to provide support and education to help the patient move towards healing.

Brook Moser, Regional Coordinator of Trauma Performance Improvement; Jo Shelton, RN, Staff Nurse Sexual Assault Examiner; and Jessica Melrose, RN, Staff Nurse Sexual Assualt Examiner, accepted the donation from Skagit Valley Hospital Gift Shop volunteers.

“This will be such a soothing item of comfort to provide during a traumatically stressful time in a child’s life,” said Moser. “Our SANE team is so grateful for the generosity from the Gift Shop supporters and volunteers.”