Partially blind grandmother knits blankets for babies born prematurely like she was

Margaret Thompson, who was born prematurely in 1938 and was not expected to live, now knits blankets for a new generation of preemies — despite her vision loss.

Key Takeaways:

• Born prematurely in Bedlington, England, in 1938, just before the outbreak of World War II, Margaret Thompson's mother ran to the priest to christen her, as it was thought the baby girl wouldn't survive.

• Margaret is now blind in her right eye and only partially sighted in her left.

• At 87 years old, she knits blankets for premature babies all around the world.

The Details:

In a time when the survival rate for a baby born prematurely was especially low, Margaret Thompson beat the odds and was the second of nine children in her family. Now, at 87 with two grandchildren of her own, she shares her love with premature babies from England to Kenya, using the gift of knitting she acquired at just five years old.

Thompson lives at Brunswick House, a residential care home in Gosforth, England. It is there that she spends her time knitting and crocheting blankets to give to babies born early, like she was — a project she began 40 years ago.

"She has made so many blankets over the years that she has lost count, but it runs into many thousand," Louise Burnyeat, manager at Brunswick House, told Chronicle Live.

What is most amazing about this beautiful gesture is the fact that Thompson is now blind in her right eye and only partially sighted in her left, showing that she is still defying the odds to this day. Thompson relies on her sense of touch to complete 90% of the blanket creation process.

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"Starting her blankets can be challenging, so she often asks a friend for assistance and, once the initial groundwork is done, her friend hands the project over to Margaret to complete. Then, after she finishes her blankets, they are washed and given to her daughter [...] who works as a midwife at the Royal Victoria Infirmary,” explained Burnyeat. 

In addition to the blankets, Thompson knits and crochets items to raise funds for Trinity Church in Gosforth. She can be found regularly attending St. Cuthbert's in Brunswick Village.

"I like to help people who need my assistance,” she said. “I can’t sit idle; I must be doing something. It passes the time, is very therapeutic and keeps my mind and hands active."

“When the weather is nice, I enjoy sitting in the sun with a cup of tea and crocheting. It is lovely to know that I can help the babies at the RVI (Royal Victoria Infirmary).”

In the last 11 months alone, she has provided 70 blankets for babies.

Why It Matters:

Thompson's efforts demonstrate that even as we face challenges, there are ways to give back using our own unique gifts.