Jamie’s Wiggly Bag Project

Jul 26, 2012 by: palsadmin

A lot of children who have central lines known as a “Wiggly” (a tube coming out the chest for IV access) wear ‘wiggly bags’. They are little bags attached to ribbon and worn around the neck which lets the line rest in them, taking the weight, stopping them from getting tugged and keeping them clean. When Jamie R relapsed and had to have a line again in May 2005, his Mum Kelly contacted us saying that their local hospital had run out of wiggly bags and did we know anyone who could make some. She also mentioned that often in the past the material a lot of them had been made from wasn’t very appealing to children. So we launched an appeal on behalf of Jamie and the ward and were astounded at the response – receiving hundreds of wiggly bags from around the world and in all manors of materials. From girly patters, to aeroplanes, to popular children’s characters, even a range of ones with felt shapes sewn on for visually impaired children. The Christmas range were very popular on the BMT ward at Great Ormond Street at one point we are told! When Lucy P had a line put in, she was discharged home with sewing instructions for her Mum to make some wiggly bags, so instead we sent a selection based on Lucy’s favourite things. She loved the pink glittery material with “barbie” on so much she didn’t want to take it off! Although Jamie passed away in August 2005, people are still making wiggly bags in his memory. If you have a child or a ward who would like some wiggly bags please contact us with the child’s age and favourite colour or the amount needed. We also have larger bags with straps to be worn around the waist for small pumps.