Olivia's Blankets
On November 23, 2011 my niece Olivia Madilynn was stillborn. Her parents, my brother & sister-in-law, allowed me to be with them on her birth/death day ("still birthday") and to hold their precious daughter. Their strength and this experience changed me in many ways. Olivia's life was so short, but she has made such an impact on my heart. This project is my way of remembering Olivia, letting her know how very loved she is, & of reaching out, in a very small way, to other families who experience this devastating loss.
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Sawyer's Heart Project & Mended Little angelsOlivia's Blankets are a part of:
1) Sawyer's Heart provides support & comfort to bereaved parents through Memory Boxes. Sawyer's Heart relies on donations. Please visit them on facebook to learn more about their beautiful mission. Want to help? Here's their wishlist! 2) Olivia's Blankets are also donated to Mended Little Hearts of Chicago's Angel Boxes for parents whose children have passed due to a Congenital Heart Defect. 3) This tutorial has been used by parents, family, friends, & volunteers to make blankets that are donated directly to hospitals. (see below) |
3) Additional Info: This tutorial has been used by parents, family, friends, & volunteers to make blankets that are donated directly to hospitals. When I began this project, we donated to hospitals in and around Chicago, IL. Since then, donations have been made all over the state of Illinois as well as dozens of other states, eventually reaching too many to be able to keep track of. Thank you! I never expected that this project would reach the places it has. If you feel moved to make blankets, please check with your hospital's donation coordinator to receive approval first. This project was designed to meet (most) hospital guidelines, but nearly all hospitals also require pre-approval & a sample (to ensure safety, quality, etc.) before accepting donations. Each detail of the Olivia's Blanket project has been revised many times, with the guidance of many wonder donation coordinators, to use wording & materials that were appropriate for as many people & programs as possible. I would recommend not making significant changes to the wording to avoid wasted donations. Many parents have found this project therapeutic in their grieving process & have added their own child's name to the "In Loving Memory of" portion. In our experience, this has been a fine change to make and accepted by all of our hospitals. Making a sample & checking with your hospital is highly recommended or follow the tutorial directions below and donate the blankets to Sawyer's Heart or Mended Little Hearts of Chicago by contacting them through their links above. Thank you again to all who have helped with this project. It is deeply appreciated.
tutorial & Printables
I would like to share this project openly, freely, & completely.
If you would like to make your own blankets to donate to child loss parents, please feel free to use my instructions & postcards/printables found below.
I DO NOT give my consent for this project or my work or printables to be used FOR PROFIT in any way.
(In plain terms, do not sell these blankets to grieving parents. Donate or cover costs ONLY!)
If you would like to make your own blankets to donate to child loss parents, please feel free to use my instructions & postcards/printables found below.
I DO NOT give my consent for this project or my work or printables to be used FOR PROFIT in any way.
(In plain terms, do not sell these blankets to grieving parents. Donate or cover costs ONLY!)
Printables
The JPG can be uploaded to Vistaprint or other similar postcard printing services & ordered or the JPG can be downloaded & printed at home on your photo printer.
The PDF can be printed at home or sent to a print shop. There are two PDF files--one with a single postcard & one with 2 postcards per page.
The PDF can be printed at home or sent to a print shop. There are two PDF files--one with a single postcard & one with 2 postcards per page.
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| scanned_postcard_2014_1_pdf.pdf |
| scanned_postcard_2014_2_pdf.pdf |
Basic/Quick instructions
detailed instructions
The easiest way to go through these instructions is to click the first picture & then click the ">" arrow to scroll through the pictures, in order, & to read the captions that give detailed information about the process & supplies used.
please visit olivia's mom's site dear olivia madilynn by clicking here.
Olivia's mom, Jen, is an advocate in the baby loss community. She shares her story & the really beautiful ways she honors her angel babies--Olivia & Asher. If you're ready to be inspired, visit her site!
blanket count
In the 1st year of Olivia's Blankets, we did not know what to expect with how many blankets we would be able to get out into parents hands. Each year we've been growing and have been grateful. We (family & friends and myself, Olivia's Auntie, are making hundreds of blankets each year (with 11-23-2016 being Olivia's 5th Angelversary) and groups around the country are getting together to honor their own angel babies by making these blankets and donating them to their local mother and baby birthing wings of their hospitals. We've actually grown too large to count the number of blankets that are out there and that's a really wonderful thing! We know, without a doubt, that Olivia's family & friends contributed 458 blankets in the first two years of the program. In the 3rd year, 141 blankets were donated in honor of Baby Eli from his Mommy & Family and 200 were donated by Olivia's family. In the 4th year, 200 blankets were donated by Olivia's family and an additional 200 were collected and donated by her mommy for her 3rd still birthday. For Olivia's 4th still birthday, we distributed approximately 160 blankets and for her 5th still birthday, we already have placement "orders" that are nearly complete for 350 blankets. Again, all of these counts do not include those that have done & distributed their own blankets (which we've heard there have been SO many of & we're so happy & proud of all of you who are helping! Thank you!) I will be posting information soon on how we're hoping to expand the program in this 5th & 6th year and several ways you can help, some which just take a minute or two! :) Thank you, so much, as always, for your love and support.
If you've made/donated blankets (any number large or small) please let me know. I would love to add a note to this page to recognize & honor your loved one & your special gift in their memory.
EMAIL ME at Sissydec@gmail.com.
I will only use basic information so that you & your family's privacy will be respected & protected.
EMAIL ME at Sissydec@gmail.com.
I will only use basic information so that you & your family's privacy will be respected & protected.
