Today we brought in our donation to Children's Hospital in Minneapolis, the place where we said good-bye... A lot of time, energy and money was spent on this donation and I pray that the hospital uses it the way it was intended. I speak from experience when I say that they need these things. Families should not be leaving the hospital with their child's things in plastic bags or their child's hair in a specimen bag. Families need to leave the hospital knowing that their child mattered. That their child was cared for and respected. That is our goal. The goal of the memory pouches is for them to be about that child. A place for families to keep those last few memories that mean so much... I look back on the experience we had, and I don't feel like Ellie was respected or cared for (once she had passed that is. While still alive- she received the best care we could ask for). I don't want another parent to ever have to feel that...
So today Max, my cousin Ang, and friend/ board member, Lo, and I brought what we had downtown. We dropped them off at the front door, explained it all to the bereavement coordinator, and now just hope that it makes a difference. Even if it only keeps one family from feeling the way we did, then I feel good about it. I feel good about putting Ellie's name on it, especially the stuffed animals. I feel like Ellie would really love Belle's Buddies, and I hope all of the adorable, cuddly Buddies provide comfort to the siblings that are so often overlooked- they matter too.
Our donation to the hospital today:
- 50 memory pouches: each with a canvas personal belonging bag, cloth memory pouch, photo album with SD card envelope, journal, candle, two touchstones, bracelet set, lock of hair box
- 100 Buddies for grieving siblings
- 3 value size boxes of Model Magic, to be used for hand and footprints
- 25 Faces of Loss, Faces of Hope postcards for families with preemies and infants that pass away
For the memory pouches, touchstones from Midnight Orange, photo albums, votive candles, personal canvas personal belonging bags, Lock of Hair boxes, bracelet sets from plain2pretty
Just some of the pouches during the organization process...
One of the girls memory pouches
A boys memory pouch
Belle's Buddies: All tagged and ready for siblings!
Hand and Footprint Kits
Everything all ready to go!
Making the drop!
Lo, Max and I
Max playing with Ang while I talk to the bereavement coordinator...
Ellie, It's all for you Peanut. All the work, the time, the energy, the money- all of it is for you little girl. I hope you know how much we miss you and how loved you still are. I think about you all the time. Love you so much!!
20 comments:
You're amazing! We had the best care from people while Adam passed and leading up to his death. The only thing I would have changed was his lock of hair put into a biohazard bag. The nurse apologized to me, and at the time, I didn't care. Looking through all his stuff weeks later and seeing that was really hard. I'm so happy you included that for grieving parents. You're doing good work lady! Love you.
I am just speechless right now...you guys are going to make such a difference for who knows how many families! This is so unbelievably awesome! I love it, and I'm sure Ellie is beyond proud of her mommy and all who have helped make this possible. What an honor for your daughter's legacy to be caring for and loving others. Well done, you all should be so proud of the work you all have done. God bless you!
This is so so amazing. I know Ellie is so proud of you. What a beautiful & touching way to honor her.
{{{Hugs}}}
All of this is so meaningful & beautiful! I know Ellie is proud of her family & friends. I so wish that I had gotten something like this when Meredith died. I got absolutely nothing, not even a footprint. Because of you doing things in Ellie's memory, future bereaved parents (sounds so sad, but we know it's inevitable) will not be bereft of memory making items for their child.
just beautiful. I too wish we had something other than an envelope with River's hair and a few copies of footprints. these are just so lovely. families that inevitably have to go through this will receive Ellie's gift and they will forever remember that moment.
The pouches are perfect and of course, the Belle's Buddies are going to be very loved by some children in the future. It must have been hard to go in there and drop that off.
BTW Max is super adorable inside that orange couch--what kid wouldn't want to play inside that!
Everything you have done is amazing. Of course, we never want to have to see a family need these items, but in the event they are needed, you have created some beautiful keepsake items. I am positive that your gorgeous little girl would be so proud of her family who keeps her light shining. And that picture of Max carrying the model magic? Simply delicious! Sending continued hugs and prayers from Jersey.
those items are so amazing. so beautiful and so much thought put into them. I cannot imagine the comfort they will bring. really truly amazing, tiffany. in those terrible moments that no parent should experience, they will feel ellie's light. such important work.
XOXO
Beth
This is absolutely amazing!!! What a wonderful thing you have done. I agree completely that the after care of death is beyond lacking. Receiving something like this after Logan's death would have been very memorable. I still am mad that my nurse never told me to get some of his hair or get molds of his hands or feet...Ellie's light will bring a little comfort to those in their time of need.
What an amazing gift you have given to families who will go through what you've been through. Im sure you and your family are touching so many lives by doing this.
You are an amazing mother.
So proud of you. What a fantastic collection of things to give to a grieving family, I love it all.
xox
Amazing. Absolutely amazing. I know that Ellie is so proud of all that you have done in her memory!
You are touching others with beauty and comfort, respect and empathy. Your love, hard work, and good works for others is so inspirational! I hope to do good works too. Ellie is loved and forever in our hearts.
You guys have done an amazing job. I know that Ellie is so proud of how you are spreading her love to others. I pray that this helps another family in so many ways just knowing that someone else cares. Praying for you!!!
This is such a beautiful project, it just sucks the reasoning behind it. I'm so glad you are out there helping other parent who will sadly go through what you guys did, just for them to know that someone understands and cares.
How neat! So great to do in the name of your precious daughter!
All those donations are divine... they look so beautiful and come with so much love and meaning. You're doing an amazing thing for families out there xoxo
Wow, wow wow! That is an extraordinary amount of work, and an amazing contribution to Ellie's legacy. Go momma!
Truly amazing! Kind acts like this from strangers mean so much to families in crisis.
Wow! What a wonderful donation. I'm sure that Ellie is smiling in Heaven.
On 11/18 my little one would have been nine. As a tribute to him and other babies who have passed away, I'm hosting a blogfest for mothers who have lost infants or children. I would love it if you could join us and share your story.
-Elisa
Here's that link if you're interested:
http://ecwrites.blogspot.com/2011/11/golden-sky-blogfest-is-in-less-than.html
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