April 2016 Beads of Courage Day

Dr. Robert Simmons, Beads of Courage Bead Donation Director and GMS member, told us that the beads made by GMS volunteers are the best polymer clay beads the Beads of Courage organization receives! Colorful beads are given to children undergoing medical treatments and each color represents a medical procedure, for example a needle stick, chemo treatment, a clinic visit, etc. A major milestone or surgery or other major event means the child receives an act of courage bead, like the beads we make. They get to choose their act of courage bead. Even older children choose their act of courage bead carefully. Dr. Simmons told us how children have beads strung up and over their IV poles. Each child can tell you what every bead on their string means.

Even with only a few volunteers, we made a lot of beads! All of us -- Mary Gurney, Shelley Stubbs as well as Dr. Simmons and I -- worked hard to make colorful, whimsical beads. We made funny faces, beads with flowers and dots, birds, dogs, trilobites, sushi -- Mary even made a couple of minions!

Many thanks to Dr. Simmons for baking and finishing the beads for us and for coming to help make this event a big success! And thank you to Charles for helping with the event and Mary and Shelley for putting their talents into so many beads!

Lori Carter

Lots of colors to choose from

So many beads!

Trilobites, birds, flowers -- even sushi!

Alien planets, flowers, and sharks!

Purple bug?

Funny faces and trilobites...

...sushi and a little bird..

...even a minion!