In the exhibition hall of the Women’s Ministries Congress in Friedensau in September 2017 many women were attracted to a small exhibit of colorful crocheted octopuses. Hanna Wagner was one of the women who picked up the idea and presented it to her sewing circle in her local church in Mühlheim/Main. She visited two hospitals in the vicinity and showed them the little octopuses. With the help of the women of her sewing circle these hospitals can now give a small octopus to the preemies for keeps. The babies grab a tentacle and this reminds them of the umbilical cord and helps stabilize their heartbeat. The idea originally came from Denmark in 2013 and has since spread around Europe. The octopuses are not only good for premature babies but can also be used for bedridden patients of any age to keep them occupied so that they do not pull out drips. The hospital leadership was so impressed with the idea that they informed the local press and several newspapers published the story under the title "Good Deeds".
Look up more information about what this women’s group is doing:
http://Muehlheim.adventist.eu/herzkissen
Octopuses for Preemies
A New Project for Women’s Groups in Germany