Great Falls Mom Warms Hearts with Ponchos in Memory of Her Son

By: Marianne Bane

The Cape Ivy organization began with a mother’s love and a necessity. What started as a small way to warm up her son Gavin’s hospital stays has blossomed into a lasting legacy. Meg Smith designed the first fleece ponchos to ease her son’s chilly hospital visits, and now, in his memory, she donates these warm, IV-friendly ponchos to hospitalized children across the country.

As a parent of a child who spent years in and out of hospitals, Meg understands the challenge of staying warm while hooked up to IV and PICC lines. Conventional clothing, like robes, sweaters, and jackets, aren’t compatible with these lines. When Gavin was six, she came up with a creative solution: cozy fleece poncho capes he could slip over his head. The capes kept him snug in bed and eliminated those cold walks down hospital corridors. Gavin had a favorite design he carried with him on every hospital visit, just in case he was admitted.

Sadly, Gavin lost his 12-year battle with a rare form of Common Variable Immune Deficiency (CVID) shortly before his 13th birthday. In his honor, Meg, along with her friend and neighbor Cindy Hargroves, began giving these fleece ponchos to hospitalized children. In 2020, the all- volunteer organization Cape Ivy became a nonprofit.

Despite a brief pivot to mask-making during the pandemic, Meg and Cindy resumed shipping ponchos to hospitals and have since donated over 20,000 ponchos nationwide. Cape Ivy continues to grow, warming children’s hearts and bodies across the U.S.

Remember that the ponchos make thoughtful gifts for anyone, from grandparents to friends in chemotherapy, or for cozy evenings at home. The online gift shop features options that support Cape Ivy’s mission, and businesses, nonprofits, and foundations are invited to sponsor local DC-area hospitals.