Giving Tuesday - Loss Resources
A post I've been meaning to post for literally two years now is a post with resources for parents and family members who have experienced child loss. There are several amazing organizations that provide various things to help family members remember their babies. Given that today is Giving Tuesday, I thought it was as good of a time as ever to post about this.
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
The organization that has had the biggest impact on Dusty and I, that has probably provided us the most comfort after losing Chandler and Paisley, is Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (NILMDTS). For those of you not familiar with NILMDTS, this organization provides photographers who will come to the hospital and take photographs of your precious baby(ies) and will edit, crop, and provide those photos to you at no cost. This organization is always looking for more photographers to join them and help provide this service. I wish that I was able to help. If I had any photography skills, I would hands down volunteer to help. Here is the website for NILMDTS.
https://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/
Molly Bears
Another amazing organization is Molly Bears. This organization allows parents (only parents) to order teddy bears that are the exact weight of the baby that passed away. They will do all sizes of infants (even unknown). There is a wait list of several months, and they only open the order form once a month on the last day of the month, and additionally, the order form is limited (usually to the first 150-200 who order). There is a cost of $20 per bear, but it is very much worth it to have that bear to hold close. Once your bear(s) gets close to production, they will email you and allow you to have some more input into decorations for your bear. We absolutely love ours and they turned out perfects.
http://mollybears.com/
March of Dimes
Although not a loss resource, this is an organization that Dusty and I have poured ourselves into. The March of Dimes funds research for prevention of premature birth and other diseases which lead to infant mortality. For this reason, I have included it in this post. Dusty and I recently had the honor of being the Mission Family for the location Signature Chefs Auction, and I will be sharing more about that soon.
http://www.marchofdimes.org/
Ellie's Way
This organization provides care packages and memorial necklaces to loss families. The necklaces are locket style and are so beautiful.
https://elliesway.org/
Local(ish) Resources
Holy Sews
After NILMDTS, I would credit Holy Sews as being the most meaningful organization to Dusty and I as it relates to the loss of Chandler and Paisley. Holy Sews provides outfits which consist of a layette, blanket, hat and teddy bear that fit micropreemies. This need was found when the founder had a baby too early herself, and found that all clothes the hospital had to provide were too big and hung off of her precious baby. Chandler and Paisley were dressed in precious little outfits and had little teddy bears and hats that were just their size. These hats and teddy bears are something that Dusty and I cling to even now. For our precious babies to have little bears that fit them perfect was just so precious to us. We keep their bears with their ashes.
Holy Sews was founded in Little Rock, AR and delivers their packages to hospitals all across the state. Holy Sews has also expanded and has a New York chapter as well as a Dallas area chapter.
http://www.holysews.org/
Mamie's Poppy Plates
Another Little Rock based organization is Mamie's Poppy Plates. This organization serves hospitals across AR, with some hospitals served in IL, IA, IN, MO, TN and TX. They provide beautiful plates that have your babies hand and footprints, date of birth, weight, length and name. We truly treasure our plates and are so thankful we have them.
http://mamiespoppyplates.com/
Other for-profits or shops that provide mementos or other items for parents and families of loss are the following:
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep
The organization that has had the biggest impact on Dusty and I, that has probably provided us the most comfort after losing Chandler and Paisley, is Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep (NILMDTS). For those of you not familiar with NILMDTS, this organization provides photographers who will come to the hospital and take photographs of your precious baby(ies) and will edit, crop, and provide those photos to you at no cost. This organization is always looking for more photographers to join them and help provide this service. I wish that I was able to help. If I had any photography skills, I would hands down volunteer to help. Here is the website for NILMDTS.
https://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/
Molly Bears
Another amazing organization is Molly Bears. This organization allows parents (only parents) to order teddy bears that are the exact weight of the baby that passed away. They will do all sizes of infants (even unknown). There is a wait list of several months, and they only open the order form once a month on the last day of the month, and additionally, the order form is limited (usually to the first 150-200 who order). There is a cost of $20 per bear, but it is very much worth it to have that bear to hold close. Once your bear(s) gets close to production, they will email you and allow you to have some more input into decorations for your bear. We absolutely love ours and they turned out perfects.
http://mollybears.com/
March of Dimes
Although not a loss resource, this is an organization that Dusty and I have poured ourselves into. The March of Dimes funds research for prevention of premature birth and other diseases which lead to infant mortality. For this reason, I have included it in this post. Dusty and I recently had the honor of being the Mission Family for the location Signature Chefs Auction, and I will be sharing more about that soon.
http://www.marchofdimes.org/
Ellie's Way
This organization provides care packages and memorial necklaces to loss families. The necklaces are locket style and are so beautiful.
https://elliesway.org/
Local(ish) Resources
Holy Sews
After NILMDTS, I would credit Holy Sews as being the most meaningful organization to Dusty and I as it relates to the loss of Chandler and Paisley. Holy Sews provides outfits which consist of a layette, blanket, hat and teddy bear that fit micropreemies. This need was found when the founder had a baby too early herself, and found that all clothes the hospital had to provide were too big and hung off of her precious baby. Chandler and Paisley were dressed in precious little outfits and had little teddy bears and hats that were just their size. These hats and teddy bears are something that Dusty and I cling to even now. For our precious babies to have little bears that fit them perfect was just so precious to us. We keep their bears with their ashes.
Holy Sews was founded in Little Rock, AR and delivers their packages to hospitals all across the state. Holy Sews has also expanded and has a New York chapter as well as a Dallas area chapter.
http://www.holysews.org/
Mamie's Poppy Plates
Another Little Rock based organization is Mamie's Poppy Plates. This organization serves hospitals across AR, with some hospitals served in IL, IA, IN, MO, TN and TX. They provide beautiful plates that have your babies hand and footprints, date of birth, weight, length and name. We truly treasure our plates and are so thankful we have them.
http://mamiespoppyplates.com/
Other for-profits or shops that provide mementos or other items for parents and families of loss are the following:
- A Bed for My Heart - This is the site for the book "You are the Mother of All Mothers" which is an amazing short essay style book with beautiful art that I found so much comfort in. There are other things that can be purchased on this site, such as cards for fathers as well.
- Rachelle-isms - This is an etsy shop that makes beautiful and very affordable memorial items, from necklaces to bracelets. The shop owner is amazing to work with and will customize whatever you would like. I love my drop necklace from her.
- TheMidnightOrange - Another etsy shop that makes custom little sculptures that symbolize loss for your family.
- ShopShineLife - This shop makes all sorts of jewelry, including rememberence jewelry, and I love the quality of their work! We've had several pieces made and they are amazing!
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