Nurse comforts patients during cancer treatment with crocheted dinosaurs

DENVER, Colo. — On the 1 North Oncology unit at AdventHealth Porter, Samantha Klepper, RN, brings more than clinical care to her patients. She brings comfort, connection and a small crocheted reminder that they are not alone.

A registered nurse at Porter for three and a half years, Klepper began crocheting dinosaurs after being inspired by one of her patients. The patient had received a plush dinosaur from a family member and called it his “cancer-fighting dinosaur,” using it as a source of comfort during chemotherapy.

“I loved the idea so much,” Klepper said. “I wanted to recreate it for all of our cancer patients.”

Now, she hand-crochets small dinosaurs on her days off, each one taking about 30 to 40 minutes to make.

What started as a simple idea quickly became a team-supported initiative on 1 North. Together, they decided to create the dinosaurs in colors representing different cancer awareness ribbons, helping patients feel seen not just as diagnoses but as individuals.

“We want them to know we’re fighting alongside them,” she said.

For Klepper, the act of giving these handmade gifts is deeply meaningful. Nursing has always been about more than treatment, it’s about supporting patients through some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

“These patients are facing something incredibly hard,” she said. “I want to give them encouragement, joy and a reminder that they are loved and supported.”

The response from patients has been immediate and heartfelt.

One patient, anxious before a chemotherapy infusion, lit up when she received her dinosaur, gripping it tightly and saying, “I love it.”

Since Klepper began creating the dinosaurs, one particular moment has remained especially meaningful to her.

She remembers giving her very first dinosaur to a patient who had been in and out of the unit, facing ongoing physical challenges and discouragement. When Samantha explained that the dinosaur’s color represented the cancer she was fighting, the patient’s demeanor shifted.

“Her face brightened,” Klepper said. “She told me it was her favorite color.”

The patient’s sister, standing nearby, was moved to tears, and so was Klepper.

Moments like these reinforce the power of something handmade. In a setting that can feel clinical and overwhelming, a small, personal gesture can bring comfort and connection.

“When someone takes the time to make something just for you, it helps you feel less alone,” Klepper said.

For her, crocheting these dinosaurs has also been a grounding experience. It reconnects her to the reason she chose nursing in the first place: to bring hope, compassion and humanity into moments that need it most.

In the hands of her patients, these small dinosaurs become more than yarn and stitches. They become symbols of strength, care and the quiet ways healing can begin.