WESTFIELD—When a baby is born too soon, or passes away in the neonatal unit, a gown made from donated wedding dresses can be a comforting reminder of their short time together. The program is called Alberta Angel Dresses, and it was started by Metha Alberda, a seamstress from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She has turned dozens of bridal dresses into tiny garments for families who lose an infant before or shortly after birth.
The dresses are adorned with lace, ribbons and bows, then washed and cut apart to create the small outfits. They’re given to parents for final photos or for dressing their little one before burial. The gowns are sized to fit the tiniest preemies, and they’re also used for stillborns and infants who die due to complications of prematurity or other reasons. The gowns are worn as a way to say a final farewell to the child, says Carolyn Grubbs, who heads up the newborn bereavement program at Riley Children’s Health in Indianapolis. “For many, this is their last time they’ll ever see their little one,” she says. “This gives them a way to hold their little one.”
Judi Mangiaracina, a bereavement coordinator at Riley, has seen the impact of the program firsthand. She’s worked with the family of a baby girl named Karolina, who was delivered at 37 weeks and died in the NICU. The family cherished the time they had with her, and the outfit she wore for the four days that she was alive is an irreplaceable keepsake. “Karolina’s angel gown will be with us forever,” her mother wrote in a letter to Riley. “We are so grateful for the beautiful gown you provided for her.”
A column I wrote about the program in 2017 prompted an incredible response. People called or emailed me with their stories, including an Akron woman who lost her daughter to complications from premature birth. She contacted Hillary’s Cherished Gowns, a nonprofit group of seamstresses who sew the outfits. The organization has distributed more than 300 gowns to area hospitals, and more are on the way.
Other groups across the country are doing similar work, and many of them depend on donations of wedding dresses that are deconstructed into the tiny outfits. I spoke with some of them to learn more about the work they do and how you can help.
In addition to these local groups, there are international organizations that turn wedding dresses into angel gowns. With a donation of $100, you can follow your dress on its journey to a developing country (Guatemala is currently the destination) and meet the seamstress who will make it for you. It’s a special way to connect with your donation, and it’s available to all.