Project Halo USA

Those that have experienced loss in pregnancy, no matter how far along they were, can say that having something to remember their baby, or something beautiful to remember their baby wearing, helped, even if just a little bit.

I have lost six babies, and only one of them was big enough to bury and make items for.  He was almost 14 weeks, but my local hospital didn't have anything for babies born that little, and he was put on a gauze pad in the container they come in.  He looked so medical and impersonal.  I made him a blanket with his name which we kept, a blanket and angel sack to be buried in, just with those simple things, he felt more like a baby instead of an accident that just happened.

My other losses were before 6 weeks, so we had nothing to remember them by.  I got myself a necklace with all of their birth stones, and that really helped make them more real.

I started making items to donate to my local hospital for those precious babies that were born too soon but had nothing to wear or give their families.  I hadn't heard about organizations that do this, or anything other than a few of my friends doing it once or twice.  This was something I needed to do, even if just to feel like other women wouldn't have to see their precious babies in a gauze container.

A couple weeks ago, I found a page on facebook, even though the organization is based in Australia, that did what I was doing all the time.  Project Halo, an organization that receives items from amazing women to donate to babies that are born much too soon or don't make it through the pregnancy.  Their photo albums have beautiful items they have been given, and quite a few have the patterns so you can make them yourself to donate, give to this organization to donate, or to make if you go through a loss I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

I was organizing my own donation to my hospital (that I am still doing for October 15th International Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day), but I feel so blessed to be able to be a part of a new chapter for this organization.  Project Halo USA.  For right now, we can accept donations of items, whether you make them or send the yarn or fabric and we can make them, and then we organize the items into individual sets with at least a flannel/muslim wrap, one tiny blanket, and one beanie.

All of the administrators on each page are through volunteer only, so we don't charge and we don't get paid.  I know for me, being able to take donations and send them to hospitals that need items for these precious angels is payment enough.  No one should have to have nothing to remember their angel, even if they are born too soon to be buried like my early losses.

If you can help at all, please consider donating to this amazing cause.  No matter how much you can give, every little bit counts.  We are also looking for administrators and people that can collect and organize donations in every state in the US, and if you can help with that, please see the page for contact information.  We do have a few states already covered, whether you are interested in donating or administrating, and all of that information is in the discussion tab on the page.

No baby should be born without a little something special, and these precious angels are no different.