Small Angel Babies, Small Town Support
Welcome to our small town project group! I am Carrie Austin, and I started this little project group when we lost our daughter Cassidy Jane, after carrying her for 23 weeks. Though our hospital staff were kind and did what they could, I realized that people in small towns don't have access to the bereavement support offered in larger cities. We in small towns (I live in Vernal, UT) don't have official programs like NILMDTS or SHARE groups, so our little group does what we can to support parents who have lost a baby, by providing miscarriage packets, memory boxes, and clothing. There is a local parents group that meets with the parents at the hospital, and we work closely with them to get these things to grieving families. The main goals of Small Angel Babies, Small Town Support are to offer items to make the hospital stay (or the healing process) a bit better, and to let parents know that they are NOT ALONE. We started with donating care packages to the hospitals in the Uintah Basin (in NE Utah) and recently sent some to other rural UT hospitals. Once our local needs are taken care of, we send clothing items and blankets to various memory box programs, hospitals, and sewing groups who need them throughout the country.
If you'd like to join us, our Facebook group for volunteers is: http://www.facebook.com/groups/smallangelbabies/
or the Care Package Pinterest board: http://www.pinterest.com/2caralee/care-packages-for-baby-loss-parents/ And for clothing ideas: https://www.pinterest.com/2caralee/clothing-for-angel-babies/
What's Inside the Care Packages?
Most of our items are homemade, because it seems to me that doing something by hand helps the giver and receiver. When our little Cassidy was born still, we were given a beautiful handmade gown to dress her in. It was such a lovely gift, and even though it was much too big, just knowing that someone in our community cared was a gift in itself. I later found out about groups that donate tiny clothing items for the littlest angel babies, memory boxes, and other items to hospitals. I thought those were great ideas and enlisted my friends and family to help!
Here are our items:
Here are our items:
1st packages, donated on Cassidy Jane's Due Date, Nov. 7th 2012
Memory Boxes
Inside:
The smaller kits have:
Inside:
- "My Grief Journey" journal
- Angel ornament
- Certificate of Life for babies too young for birth/death certificates, or hand/footprint cards for older babies
- Homemade card with a handkerchief and poem,
- List of resources and ideas for the hospital (like take pictures, and bathe the baby)
- A clothing package, with hats, a gown/bunting/angel pocket, and/or diapers, a tiny teddy bear, and coordinating bracelets for mom and baby.
- Blanket
- Store bought items: A stuffed animal, picture frame, forget-me-not seeds, and a candle.
- I thought of adding a calming CD, and maybe a book, but what if you choose something the parents don't like? If you'd like, you could sponsor a box and add those things/donate towards getting some extras...
- A journal, we've changed to small store-bought journals/notebooks
- 1 mini diaper and no-sew hat
- A stuffy
- Tea candle
- Local angel parents group contact info
- An article/resource list from the Atlanta Birth Center: www.atlantabirthcenter.org/2012/10/miscarriage-a-pain-like-no-other/
- Handkerchief and a homemade card with a poem inside
New donation cards made by Ivy Montgomery- my co-organizer. We use these for items not covered by Teeny Tears.
Boxes! We now have enough IKEA boxes or photo boxes to put all of our care packages into a more durable keepsake. 
Stuffed Animals
A parent shouldn't leave the hospital with empty, aching arms, and these stuffies are something soft to hold close. I left with a basket of flowers, which weren't too cuddly. Bears are donated by project B.E.A.R. -Bringing Empty Arms Reprieve http://www.projectbear.us/ - and other people have generously donated since then.
Angel or Bear Ornament.
Everyone needs a reminder that they are being watched over, and an angel does just that. Bears are for the boys, because the angel seemed too girly. A string can be put on the top so it can be turned into an actual ornament, or they can be left as they are.
Journal
A lot of moms suggested journaling for the grieving process, and it was finally something that I could make myself, without a whole lot of instruction. There are a few scrapbook pages, quote pages, and room to write/draw/paint to get feelings out. I didn't really think that I needed one myself, but I made one for me too, and it really has been calming to actually write down my thoughts, with a pen and paper. http://smallangelbabies.blogspot.com/2014/08/healing-journey-journal.html
Resource Packet
I was so overwhelmed with everything when I was in the hospital, that I didn't even get pictures of us holding our baby. I did think to bring my camera and got some of her alone, but it would have been nice to have something to give me ideas. I found a list of ideas of things to do in the hospital from www.peacebears.org and added a few more local resources, including books that can be found in our county library. Nobody wants to think of it, but I listed info from cemeteries, mortuaries, etc. Because who wants to take the time to look everything up? I really hope that this, along with the other things will be of help! https://docs.google.com/document/d/19pgKfknWAGMwtQgUo2yMEPto4B97jEtNXl8f8_0h6gA/edit
I was so overwhelmed with everything when I was in the hospital, that I didn't even get pictures of us holding our baby. I did think to bring my camera and got some of her alone, but it would have been nice to have something to give me ideas. I found a list of ideas of things to do in the hospital from www.peacebears.org and added a few more local resources, including books that can be found in our county library. Nobody wants to think of it, but I listed info from cemeteries, mortuaries, etc. Because who wants to take the time to look everything up? I really hope that this, along with the other things will be of help! https://docs.google.com/document/d/19pgKfknWAGMwtQgUo2yMEPto4B97jEtNXl8f8_0h6gA/edit
Homemade Card/Handkerchief
I didn't just want to put the information/resources as a list on computer paper and leave it as formal/unfeeling as that. Having a card that is made by someone is more heartfelt. We've found this poem to include, along with a handkerchief.
I didn't just want to put the information/resources as a list on computer paper and leave it as formal/unfeeling as that. Having a card that is made by someone is more heartfelt. We've found this poem to include, along with a handkerchief.
Certificate of Life Card
For babies who don't get official birth certificates, these can be helpful. They acknowledge their life, and can hold hand/footprints, the baby's name and stats. It can be framed, and is something that can show that the baby is remembered! If you'd like to make some, here's the google doc
We have cut them out then attached it to scrapbook paper with double sided tape.
Clothing: Clothing packages are stored separately from the memory boxes so that boxes can be used for any age. The extras in the package are to be put in the box for keepsakes. (Pattern Page) http://smallangelbabies.blogspot.com/p/patterns.html
Our packages contain: 2 hats and diapers (one for the baby and one to take home as a keepsake), a gown (or angel pocket/bunting), 1 or 2 blankets (depending on what's on hand), mom and baby bracelets, & a mini bear. This way the same age/gender things for one baby are all together and things that aren't put on the baby can easily be put in the memory box.
Wishlist:
Does anyone crochet booties?
What can YOU do?
If you can sew, donate material, or are crafty in scrapbooking/card making, we'd welcome any handcrafted items.
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