A Book of Smiles? (Page 2): These could work - especially the first. Thanks for the submission.

JohninRockville Loc: Rockville, Indiana

These could work - especially the first. Thanks for the submission.

crazy4thread Loc: Minnesota

i think this is a wonderful idea, where do we post/view submissions? thanks for your kindness :)

JohninRockville Loc: Rockville, Indiana

sphoto - I need your name to give credit if I can use. Any chance you can send as a larger file? If so email it or send to the "CHARITY" thread - this thread is intended more for discussion than photos.

SimmonsCreek Loc: Missouri

Ok, so I am going to put the word out to everyone I know about this and will create a blog about it as well. This is very exciting. My husband works at our local hospital here and when I shared the idea with him he thought it was a great one.

ETA: I've started a group on one of the crafting forums that I belong to. I will keep you posted on our progress.

alycrom Loc: Aberdeen Scotland

this is such a lovely idea, however i have to say that here in the UK infection control is so tight in hospitals that the sharing of a book between patients would probably not be allowed unless it was completely cleanable eg maybe laminated? It is ludicrous the way this has gone, eg patients are not permitted to have flowers at their bedside. Anyway before you part with any money it might be worth asking if your hospitals have any of these silly ideals. Anyway i really hope you manage to get round it all and gift all those smiles. How about a photo of a sad saggy basset?

SimmonsCreek Loc: Missouri

I will be asking to put the books in waiting rooms. I don't think the issues would be so strict there, but I could be wrong. I'll need to talk to the hospital my husband works at and see what they say about it

JohninRockville Loc: Rockville, Indiana

alycrom wrote:

this is such a lovely idea, however i have to say ... (show quote)

I imagine a saggy basset could prove just as smile generating as a frisky raccoon. Regarding the hospital regulations, maybe the laminating is one answer, or one could go back to my original idea of providing framed prints to hang in individual rooms, or some folks could put a number of images into a slide show to display on some of the hospital TV's.

Heirloom Tomato Loc: Oregon

alycrom wrote:

this is such a lovely idea, however i have to say ... (show quote)

This is an interesting point. I had surgery about three weeks ago and was very surprised at how many more infection control procedures were in place than at my last surgery, five years ago. It was quite elaborate. As I was being wheeled into the operating room, I overheard some workers saying that there was a MRSA case in the hospital. Not a comforting thing to hear five minutes before surgery!

JohninRockville Loc: Rockville, Indiana

Heirloom Tomato wrote:

This is an interesting point. I had surgery about three weeks ago and was very surprised at how many more infection control procedures were in place than at my last surgery, five years ago. It was quite elaborate. As I was being wheeled into the operating room, I overheard some workers saying that there was a MRSA case in the hospital. Not a comforting thing to hear five minutes before surgery!

The Rily Children's Hospital in Indianapolis is going to put my books in their patient library, which apparently can be checked out within the hospital by patients/parents but not taken out of the hospital. At this point I'm seriously considering using "Blurb" a self publishing company. Cost for a 20 page photo book can be under $20.
BTW - what is an MRSA case?

SimmonsCreek Loc: Missouri

MRSA is a highly contagious, nasty infection. People can lose limbs and some have even died from it.

tramsey Loc: Texas

A Busy Mommy

Heirloom Tomato Loc: Oregon

JohninRockville wrote:

The Rily Children's Hospital in Indianapolis is going to put my books in their patient library, which apparently can be checked out within the hospital by patients/parents but not taken out of the hospital. At this point I'm seriously considering using "Blurb" a self publishing company. Cost for a 20 page photo book can be under $20.
BTW - what is an MRSA case?

It is a dangerous staph infection that is resistant to almost all types of antibiotics. Often found in hospitals now, which is why they are being so careful these days.

I will email you a photo later today.

JohninRockville Loc: Rockville, Indiana

Heirloom Tomato wrote:

It is a dangerous staph infection that is resistant to almost all types of antibiotics. Often found in hospitals now, which is why they are being so careful these days.

I will email you a photo later today.

You have a picture of a staph infection???? Just kidding, I hope. : )

Heirloom Tomato Loc: Oregon

JohninRockville wrote:

You have a picture of a staph infection???? Just kidding, I hope. : )

I meant a picture of a cute squirrel stealing bird seed. :oops: Not very well written, was that?

SpeedyWilson Loc: Upstate South Carolina

You could create PDF files. Then you could more easily make them available online so other people could print the books and distribute them at hospitals near where they live.

Perhaps the booklets could be smaller, letter size folded in half. The cost per booklet would be less; especially if you did not bind them -- just loose pages. They could be inserted into plastic bags, and each child given his/her own booklet to keep ... less risk of germs from other people.