My next goal

My next goal is to make another delivery to JW Hospital the first week in August. It is my hope to be able to make a delivery at least every month to catch up their shortages and keep items available for every child that needs it. Over the weekend, I finished 1 complete gown set and a burial wrap. I also finished 3 more gowns, all of which now need hats and booties to match. I have 1 more gown needing a couple more inches and a lining to be complete. I did not have time this weekend to finish the gown sewn from the wedding dress. I am dying to share pictures, as this dress is gorgeous. I did manage to cut apart the 2nd wedding gown, while I was working Saturday morning. I would like to be able to paint a couple memory boxes to deliver also, but I will have to see if time permits. My school work and final exams are competing, for time, with my love for the angels.

The work begins!

So I nervously started dismantling the beautiful ivory wedding gown last week. It took me about 2 days to get the bodice removed, the crinoline skirt removed and the main skirt opened up flat. Over the weekend, with the help of my mother-in-law, I cut out my first pieces and started sewing. Before I left Sunday evening, I had the lining attached and the neck and sleeves sewn. While I am excited about what I am doing, I didn't realize it took this much work. I thought I could have a gown done in maybe a day. Hopefully as I get the hang of it, things will move faster. Here is me working hard.

Christmas in July

What was I thinking? So I recently agreed to accept donated wedding gowns and turn them into gowns and other items for preemies. The last time I attempted to sew anything was about 20 years ago, sewing a pillow on my grandmothers sewing machine. I have been wanting to learn to sew for a couple years and my wonderful hubby bought me a nice sewing machine for Christmas 2007. I have taken it out of the box and used it a couple times to make little skirt linings for my crocheted burial gowns. But nothing like making clothing for people to wear. Another volunteer in Virginia had a couple gowns she wanted to get rid of, so I offered to take them off her hands. For two weeks now I have been worried sick that I would receive some off the wall, antique, weird colored or lacy wedding gown that I would have no idea what to do with. I have seen pictures of some of the gowns people donate, while I'm sure they thought they were beautiful and they may hold sentimental value, what were they thinking? Did they actually wear that in public?

So yesterday, my long awaited package arrives. Like a child at Christmas I wanted to tear into the box, but fear and the darn packing tape prevented me from doing so. After stealing my husbands pocket knife, trying to figure out how to open the thing, and sawing for about 30 minutes, the box opens. Part of my fears came true. The first dress is about 10 years old, has poofy shoulders and long lacy sleeves. The whole back is see-thru lace with a giant bow on the butt. The satin fabric is beautiful but the lace is going to be a challenge. The second gown is a breathtaking ivory strapless gown with silver and gold beading. It has a long train and about 100 buttons down the back. I hung the dresses up in my living room, as I had to fill out paperwork to submit to my charity organization. As I sat there filling out the forms and taking pictures, my husband sleepily walks into the living room from his nap. He looks back and forth from the gowns to me, then with a puzzled look asks "Did I miss something? Are you getting married again?" I laughed and continued with my work.

Although beautiful, I am now too nervous to even think about cutting up and dismantling these gowns. I just have to keep reminding myself that this beautiful gown will bless many families who would otherwise have no clothing to fit their tiny angel. More importantly I think of the parents who will never see their daughters walk down the isle to get married, but may have some comfort in seeing their angel wear their own tiny gown made from a wedding dress. Thanks to all the women who choose to let go of something so sentimental so that comfort may be brought to the angels and their families. God Bless you!

1st Delivery

I have never felt a sense of accomplishment, outside of my children, like Friday July 4th. At 4:30pm I picked up the phone outside the NICU at Johnston-Willis Hospital and announced I was making a delivery. The door opened, I walked proudly into the room carrying 2 Ukrops bags full of goodies. The bereavement coordinator met me at the door, so happy to see me you would have thought it was Christmas. My original intention was to leave the bags on the table, wave and leave, partially because the NICU was very busy and mostly because my family was impatiently waiting outside in the car. However, the nurse eagerly peeked inside the bags to inspect their contents. Four memory boxes, three preemie hats, and four preemie outfits including gown, hat, booties and a small keepsake angel. The nurse thanked me for the much needed items and we spent the next few minutes catching up and chatting about our dedication to the angels. I walked out of the hospital giddy and so blessed to be able to bring comfort to the tiniest angels and their families. I am still on this high, even though it has been four days, and I can't wait to make my next delivery. God, please give me strength to contain myself and get to workin!!

The Beginning

For 2 years now I have been searching for ways to remember and honor my sweet Angel Rebecca. Rebecca grew her wings on April 5, 2006. She blessed our family for six short months, but left us with a lifetime of memories and lessons learned. Rebecca spent 5 months of her life in the NICU, cared for by special doctors and nurses, who treated her like their own. Rebecca was not their only child, the NICU remains full of babies just like her. Born too early, too small, too weak and too sick to leave the confines of an incubator, much less leave the hospital in the arms of their mother. Unfortunately not all of these babies win the fight for life and freedom. This is where I come in.

I recently found a group called Heavenly Angels in Need (HAIN). Its a non-profit group of volunteers who hand crafts items of warmth, comfort and memorial for the angels and their families. It is our hope to help families one angel at a time, by providing burial garments and memorial items after the passing of these tiny angels. It is my hope that no angel leaves this world without warm clothes that fit and no parent leaves the hospital without knowing that their child was special. I have chosen Johnston-Willis Hospital's NICU as the recipient of all my donations, as they have cared for all 3 of my children. My goal for this year is to provide every angel with an outfit as beautiful as they are, and every parent with a box of memories to carry home instead of empty arms. I hope that what my Angel has given me the strength to do will provide some comfort and strength to parents walking the same path as myself and many others. Rebecca, this is for you princess!