Ben's Bell recipient stitches heart pillows for VA patients

Tackett, 77, was nominated by her daughter, Mary Jean Rhenman, who marveled at her mother's "kind and gentle soul."

"I'm really proud of her," Rhenman said. "I don't think she understands what a really wonderful thing she does."

Tackett's project began shortly after she had a heart attack in late 2004 and underwent quadruple bypass surgery.

"She was just so happy to be alive afterward, she wanted to do something to give back," Rhenman said.

While recovering, Tackett used what's called a heart pillow — after heart surgery, patients' chests are closed with staples and stitches, so they have to hold a pillow atop their sternums when they cough or sneeze to lessen the chances of the sutures tearing.

As she was thinking how to give back, Tackett realized she could make heart pillows for other patients.

Tackett's late husband, Curtis, served in the military, and her son-in-law, Dr. Birger Rhenman, is a University of Arizona professor who also works at the veterans hospital, as the chief of cardiovascular surgery. So Tackett decided to make pillows for the veterans.

But not just any pillows.

Each heart pillow — they actually are shaped like hearts — is made from patriotic-themed fabric, stars and stripes, for example, or even branch-specific themes like the Marine Corps pillow she's making now.

Tackett and her daughter estimate she's made more than 200 pillows altogether.

It occurred to Rhenman a while ago to nominate her mother for a Ben's Bell.

"It's getting harder and harder for her to do it, but she just won't quit," she said. "I wanted her to know how special she is."

The folks with the bells definitely approved, and surprised Tackett at her home Thursday. Rhenman had dropped by to help her mother stuff pillows, but hadn't mentioned any other guests were on their way.

"I was totally, totally, totally surprised," Tackett said Friday. "I just broke down. I was in tears. I couldn't believe it."

The former teacher — she taught fifth grade at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School for years — made the pillows anonymously until a few months ago, when she began attaching a construction-paper heart with her name on it. Then she started receiving the thank-you notes. "I didn't really have an inkling of how much they appreciated it until I started getting those notes," she said.

It was rewarding to hear how much her work meant — one man even wrote to say he was going to frame his pillow when he got home. But to her, it's just something that needs to be done. She's been sewing since the fourth grade and still has exacting standards, ripping out seams if they're not perfect.

"I think my teachers would be quite proud of me," she said. "I really, really, truly enjoy doing this."

ben's bellings

The Ben's Bells project began in March 2003, one year after Ben Maré Packard died of croup, just before his third birthday. His family hopes it reminds people to be kind, to help ease one another's pain.

The latest phase of the project began in September 2005, weekly "bellings" for those among us who make our community a better, kinder place to live.

If you know people who deserve a Ben's Bell, nominate them to be "belled." Go to www.929themountain.com/pages/jennie_itm.html and click on Ben's Bells Project. To learn more about the project, go to www.bensbells.org. Or help work on bells by dropping by the studio, 816 E. University, in Geronimo Plaza. It's open 10-3 Wednesday, 2-7 Friday and 10-3 Saturday and Sunday.

And check the Star each Saturday to see the latest recipient.

More Bells

The Ben's Bells folks have declared April 21 as Celebrate Kindness Day, an edict that will be backed up by a mayoral proclamation. In addition to a host of activities at the studio, the Ben's Bells folks will let people "bell" one another with a special "You Are Kind" bell. For $25, people can have someone belled or pick up a bell at the studio to present themselves. For $30, the bell can be shipped to a recipient. Go to the Web site to learn more.