Every year in the United States, approximately 40,000 infants are still born

(In 1995,3,478 children in California died before 11 months.) This project is for the families left behind. In our research for this project we talked to many people; mothers, hospitals, care givers and support groups. The one message that they all brought to us was this: the thing that the parents most seek after the death of an infant is an acknowledgment of that child's life. It may have only been a few moments, or it may have been months. They cling to the precious seconds they shared with that child.

When a child dies, the family often feels abandoned because people don't know what to say, or are uncomfortable dealing with death. They are told "it was for the best", "you'll get over it", "you'll have another baby" -- and while all of these things are true, they add to the grief the family feels at the time.
We cannot hope to help these families through the tremendous loss, but we can give them a small gift to hold the things that touched their child; the birth certificate, crib card, bonnet or cap, gown, wrist band, foot and hand print, etc.

By participating, we are creating a keepsake box that the family may keep for generations.  At the least it will be a treasured mememto of a too-brief life.  This is a very worthy project and we are proud to be part of it

Twenty Four Memory Boxes were donated to Baptist Hospital in Miami, Florida in December, 1999.
The next group is almost ready.
If you would like to work on your own memory box, please email to Sun Strokes and boxes will be brought to the next meeting.
(Members only)