LOUISVILLE, Ky. — At a time when COVID-19 restrictions prevent loved ones from visiting nursing homes, special deliveries from a Kentucky organization are giving residents all across the country a little sense of home.

Pearl's Memory Babies is a Kentucky organization that donates baby dolls, stuffed animal puppies, and stuffed animal kittens to people with Alzheimer's. Founder Sandy Cambron's mother-in-law had Alzheimer's. When she was admitted to a nursing facility, Cambron and her husband wanted to help.

“It was just really hard for her to adjust. We tried different things to comfort her and nothing seemed to work. One day we were out shopping and I thought maybe if we take her a baby doll," Camrbon said. "She took to that baby doll and it made such a difference. She wouldn’t leave that baby. Everywhere she went, that baby was at her side.”

When her coworker Shannon Blair's mother had Alzheimer's and moved into a nursing facility, Cambron asked if she could give her a baby doll. 

“I took the carrier in and when I walked into my mom’s room, I pulled one of the babies out of the carrier and, before I could say anything, my mom’s roommate held out her hands and was asking for the baby. She pulled it into her and started crying. It was so emotional,” Blair said.

They realized, if the baby dolls helped their loved ones, maybe they could also help others. After a Facebook post went viral, they started a GoFundMe page to be able to help more people. While it may not make sense to everyone, Blair said there is nothing quite like seeing how the deliveries bring people to life.

“The loneliness they feel on top of the disease they are experiencing. Until you see it or know someone in that situation, I think it doesn’t make a lot of sense,” Blair said.

Usually Cambron and Blair go to the nursing homes and memory care facilities to make the deliveries in person and interact with the residents. However, with COVID-19 restrictions, deliveries have to be from afar this year. Instead of getting to see the resident's reaction in-person, nursing home staff members are taking pictures and videos to show the impact.

It's no wonder that, given the pandemic, more facilities are reaching out now than ever before. Woodcrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Elsmere, Kentucky is one of the lucky recipients. Administrator Jillian Zwick said it was great to see the residents so happy.

“It was phenomenal to have something like that. This year is probably one of the hardest years any of them has endured. It was so nice to get them a surprise and have them respond the way they did because, no matter how many special things we try to do for them, we are not their family. No matter how many video calls we give them, it’s not the same. To be able to give them something to physically hold and touch, I think that was a huge thing for them,” Zwick said.

Pearl's Memory Babies expanded services outside Kentucky recently with the Pearl's Smiles for Miles initiative. They sent dolls and puppies to a facility in Nebraska, a facility in Texas and a facility in Michigan. Cambron said she would help everyone if she could.

“Every baby I dress and get ready I always think of who is going to get it and I get excited about it. I really believe it is making a difference. I wish we could deliver every single day to everybody. I hurt for the ones we haven’t gotten to yet, but we are trying and will get there as quickly as we can. It’s just wonderful that so many people are so supportive," Camrbon said.

Pearl's Memory Babies is approaching its three-year anniversary in February. Cambron and Blair say they will keep going as long as the donations do. You can find out more about how to donate on the organization's website.