For families that experience the loss of a baby, there is a great need for clothes. Often, the only piece of clothing they can take with them to bury their infant is an angel gown. Designed to honor the life of a child who never lived, these special garments are made from repurposed wedding dresses and other fabric donated by community members and sewn by volunteers. Angel gowns are a staple in many hospital bereavement programs across the country and can be found in more than four countries around the world.
ANALANE POWELL: For many small babies, especially micro preemies or those who pass away at home in their arms, there is little that can be done for them other than to provide them with some sort of garment to be buried in and to help give their parents a moment or two to hold them. And those garments are not always easy to find. In fact, in some cases, it is a stressor for a family to try to find that. That’s why this program is so important and that’s why a lot of hospitals are starting to have it available for their patients.
The women who work with Sunshine State Angel Gowns sew their garments at least once a week. They are all mothers who volunteer their time to make these gowns and blankets for infants and children who will never be born. Often, they also have their own stories of loss and know exactly how hard it is for these families to endure such a heartbreaking tragedy.
Judi Gaber has worked as a nurse at Riley for 37 years, and she knows the unfathomable pain that comes with losing a baby. She heard about a project at the hospital, now known as Levine Children’s Medical Center, that provides angel gowns to the families of stillborn babies and quickly volunteered to do her part.
Each gown takes at least a dozen repurposed wedding dresses and other fabric to make, and volunteers have started to create other items for bereaved families, such as memory blankets that are especially helpful for those who suffer from early miscarriages or need a way to remember their losses without a traditional burial. Cortes, who lost her oldest son, Tito, at age 11, says she has learned that it’s important for parents to be able to connect with other families who have experienced the same grief and to be able to share their stories.
When I ask if sewing so many gowns and blankets for children who will never grow up ever becomes too much to bear, she shakes her head no. She wants to continue this ministry so that every baby who passes on gets their first touch of humanity and dignity, no matter how short their life may have been. She also says that if it wasn’t for the wonderful support of her church community, she wouldn’t be able to do this.