Lilybugs is a charity knitting and quilting group that knits hats and socks and sews blankets for the babies and children at the Pediatric Heart Center at UCSF in San Francisco, California.

Lilybugs was formed in memory of Lily Belle Green. Lily was born in November, 2004 with congenital heart disease. Lily had one closed heart surgery and two open heart surgeries in order to save her life. She was hospitalized numerous times and suffered many complications and setbacks during her first sixteen months. All of Lily’s hospitalizations were at UCSF, primarily in the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.

Most of the patients in the pediatric cardiac unit are newborns or children in the first year of their lives. Going from the excitement of the maternity ward into the terror of the cardiac unit is huge shock, and a troubling experience for the family. Lily Belle’s parents have expressed to us how much a colorful, hand made item can help make the traumatic experience of seeing your child hooked to monitors and lines more gentle and soft edged. Unfortunately sometimes these items will become treasured memories for families whose children are not so lucky to survive congenital heart disease.

As Lily was in hospital or in a clinic during almost every week of her life, she became well known by the team who cared for her. Everyone was continuously impressed by her strength, vitality and happy demeanor. Throughout her life Lily’s spirit remained irrepressible. Her smile, her bright blue eyes, and her adorable round face captured and captivated everyone who met her.

In August 2006, Lily’s indomitable spirit was set free of her compromised body after she suffered her second and final cardiac arrest. She is missed immensely by her family and friends.

The PCICU staff is ecstatic to be able to give their patients beautiful hand made items. Please join us in honoring Lily Belle’s memory and making the hospital a brighter place by supporting Lilybugs.