San Joaquin Community Hospital | You + Us | Summer 2016

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Providing a
comforting
gift of
compassion
When Gene Garibaldi
passed away rather sud-
denly, his family received
a hand-tied blanket and
handprint.
Gene seemed healthy
before he was rushed to San Joaquin
Community Hospital (SJCH) with a tear in
his aorta, the major artery carrying blood
from the heart. It was incredibly difficult
to lose a loving husband and father, but
the Garibaldis were consoled knowing he
had been comfortable and well cared for
in the ICU.
SOMETHING TO HOLD ON TO
“It meant the world to us knowing my
dad had incredible care while at San
Joaquin Community Hospital. Not only
did the nurses take care of him, they
gave us something to hold on to,” Mark
Garibaldi recalls, talking about the
handmade blanket.
“After he passed away, the nurses also
made a handprint and were so gentle and
caring—just amazing care. It meant a lot
to my entire family. We can’t thank the
nurses and staff enough.”
TOP: From left are Mark Garibaldi, Gina
Belluomini, Gene and Joan Garibaldi, Anne
Meert, and Angie Kobliska.
BOTTOM: The family of Gene Garibaldi
received his handprint from the ICU nurses.
With purpose and passion
“Everyone in the ICU is involved in the Forget
Me Knot project,” Kelly says. “Some people help
make blankets, while others donate money for
supplies. We’ve even had families of previous
comfort care patients send checks to support our
project. One family wrote a letter to the ICU staff
stating, ‘I have seen a side of nursing that I didn’t
know existed.’”
Volunteers for the Forget Me Knot project have
made hundreds of blankets, and many more are in
the works. Nursing students from California State
University, Bakersfield, have helped tie knots for
the cause. The ICU nurses also hold bake sales
to raise money for blanket materials and paint for
handprints.
This project is special, not only for the families
of the patients but the nurses as well. “I feel so
blessed to be a part of this incredible project,”
Allie says.
Allie and Kelly started giving the blankets to
patients in September 2015. Since then, they have
handed out some 300 blankets and even more
handprints.
YOU CAN HELP TOO
If you’d like to donate time
or money to the Forget Me
Knot project, please contact
the San Joaquin Community
Hospital Foundation by calling
661-869‑6570 or clicking on
“Giving Back” at .
To watch Allie and Kelly’s story,
go to .