In the grand tapestry of life, there are moments of immense joy and heartbreaking sorrow. For families that lose their tiny bundles of hope, a special garment can offer solace and dignity during the most difficult times. At Levine Children’s Hospital, gowns made from wedding dresses are repurposed to provide dignity for families who suffer a loss so sudden and devastating.
Every year, 1 in 4 women experience an infant loss whether through miscarriage, still birth or some other factor. The loss is a heartbreak, and it’s one that you carry with you forever. It’s a loss that can leave you feeling helpless and alone. That’s why we are here to support you.
We work to transform donated wedding dresses into beautiful infant burial gowns, also known as Angel Gowns. These gowns are offered to hospitals, birthing centers, funeral homes, and directly to grieving families completely free of charge. We believe that every little life deserves to be honored and remembered.
One grandmother, who prefers to remain anonymous, spends her retirement giving back to the community by making these gowns. Colleen, better known as “Grandma Angel,” has turned the first floor of her home into a workshop where she sews these small treasures. She says she started this project after her cousin lost her premature baby. She soon found that hospitals across the country were in need of these special garments to honor their tiniest patients.
Grandma Angel’s sewing room is filled with donated dresses that have been cut and repurposed to make these gowns. Each dress has a story to tell. She remembers one in particular that had a stain that looked like coffee. However, instead of throwing it away, she sewed around the stain and turned the dress into something that would be more meaningful to families.
She works to ensure that each gown is made with love and compassion for families who have suffered an unspeakable loss. She has received letters from all over the country describing how these gowns have given them a way to honor their angel babies. The letters are written with so much love, and they often contain the baby’s name.
In addition to the gowns, Grandma Angel makes hats and blankets for families who have experienced an infant loss. She says that she is always accepting dresses, as well as monetary donations to purchase materials such as yarn, baby items, sew-in Velcro, thread, ribbon and soft fleece.
We are so grateful to the volunteers at Grandma Angel’s workshop for transforming the donated wedding dresses into these precious garments for families that have lost their tiniest of treasures. To learn more about how you can help, please visit their website or Facebook page.