Victory Spotlight: Nurse’s “Blanket Buddies” Movement Brings Hope to Survivors
In Janesville, Wisconsin, Jamie Counsell, a sexual assault nurse examiner at Mercyhealth, has transformed compassion into a grassroots movement. She created the Blanket Buddies program, providing survivors of sexual assault with soft, handmade blankets during their medical exams.
Small Comfort, Big Impact
The simple act of offering a blanket brings warmth, dignity, and reassurance to patients at their most vulnerable. Survivors often describe it as a gesture that helps them feel seen and supported, an emotional anchor in an otherwise clinical process.
Beyond the Exam Room
Counsell also educates future law enforcement officers at Blackhawk Technical College, training cadets in trauma-informed care. Her teaching influences how police engage with survivors, ensuring greater empathy and respect in investigations.
Why This Matters
– Grassroots Healing: Born from one nurse’s empathy, the program has touched countless lives without the backing of a national campaign.
– System Change: By shaping law enforcement’s approach, Counsell’s work reaches beyond health care into community justice.
– Model for Others: Her initiative shows how nurses can create low-cost, high-impact programs that ripple far beyond the bedside.
Even the smallest act of kindness can make a survivor feel seen and supported. Join Jamie’s Blanket Buddies and help bring comfort, dignity, and hope to those who need it most:Join the Facebook Group
Final Thoughts
Jamie Counsell reminds us that victory is not always measured in headlines or policy shifts. Sometimes it is a blanket, a smile, and the courage to advocate for better care. Her work is proof that one nurse can change not just a patient’s day but an entire community’s response to trauma.
Resources
Everyday Hero: Nurse’s Blanket Buddies Program in Janesville – Spectrum News 1
Image credit: Christina Lorey’s Post on Facebook
