There is nothing sweeter than holding an infant in one’s arms, tickling its miniature fingers and toes. Sweeter still, if the infant is not one’s own. There is none of the hard work involved in having one’s own - no late night feedings, diaper changes or minor infections. There is only the fun of playing with a brand new human. As soon as it begins to cry, the baby is handed back to the parents. Quite convenient!

Perhaps this enthusiasm for new life is the driving force behind Ellen Miller’s avid doll collecting. A grandmother herself, Certified Nurse Assistant Ellen Miller enjoys taking care of these “babies,” dressing them and showing them off, without having to go through the messy work.

Once in a while, she brings some of her dolls to work. Residents are more than willing to “baby-sit.” This was the case one sunny afternoon at the ECH-Alameda lobby. Four life-size infant dolls sat on the laps of four radiant residents. The dolls are incredibly realistic in size, weight and features. Some of them have an automated crying sound feature that goes on when the stomach is squeezed.

The residents respond to these dolls so eagerly. Their faces light up as they cuddle, talk and sing to the dolls as if they were real-life infants. They sit patiently, cradling their dolls until Ellen Miller comes to pick them up before she goes home for the day.Early this spring season, Ellen Miller held a Doll Show as part of ECH-Alameda’s celebration of Nursing Home Week. She decorated the Fireside Dining Room for a baby shower, and topped all the tables with beautiful dolls of various ethnic orientations. All the dolls were life-size, dressed in choice children’s and infants’ clothing and shoes. They were set up with fun toys to truly capture the whimsical world of child’s play. Tea sets, box cars, baby food… Ellen Miller paid attention to every detail.

All who came to the doll show were mesmerized. One of the dolls was bought and brought home by a member of the staff. This gave birth to a new idea: raffle off one of Ellen Miller’s dolls to benefit ECH-Alameda’s Christmas Party. Tony Aganus, Medical Records Director and Head Organizer of the ECH-Alameda Annual Staff Christmas Party, is currently selling raffle tickets at $10 each for the doll prize worth $150, impeccably assembled and dressed by Ellen Miller.

This entry was posted on Monday, December 18th, 2000 at 6:58 pm. You can trackback from your own site.