The Mon Health Medical Center Auxiliary recently donated handmade gowns and wraps for families who have suffered infant loss to the Mon Health Medical Center Family Birth Center as part of the Angel Gowns Project.
The gowns are made from donated wedding dresses and given to parents of stillborn babies or newborns who die shortly after birth.
The Angel Gowns project was inspired by Jill Buterbaugh and Joanne Liptock, two friends and colleagues at Mon Health Medical Center. From their desire to provide grieving families with some comfort during their loss, the idea was presented to the Mon Health Medical Auxiliary Board and the ongoing project began.
Oftentimes with the passing of an infant, there is nothing to clothe them in besides a simple blanket or shirt, adding to the overwhelming heartbreak for parents. These handmade gowns are provided as a gift to the grieving family to acknowledge their loss in a personal way.
“We would have loved for this project to have been at the hospital to ease some pain for those who have suffered loss in the past, and we hope that these gowns give grieving families some comfort knowing that someone cares about what they are going through,” said Kathy Pompili and Joyce Wassick, members of the Mon Health Medical Center Auxiliary who donated angel gowns.
Several angel gowns and wraps with matching head coverings were presented to the Mon Health Medical Center Family Birth Center July 23. The Mon Health Medical Center Auxiliary members plan to continue donating gowns to the hospital, as well as to the Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital Family Birth Center in Weston and Vandalia Health’s CAMC Women and Children’s Hospital in Charleston.
“These gowns are such a loving gift for our Mon Health families that have suffered infant loss,” said Anna DeFazio, director of Nursing and Women’s Services of the Mon Health Medical Center Family Birth Center. “We are so thankful to Jill Buterbaugh and the late Joanne Liptock for their initiative to bring this idea to the hospital, and for Kathy Pompili, Joyce Wassick, and Beth Burn of the auxiliary who have collected wedding gowns and fabric to make these beautiful angel gowns.”
To learn more about the Mon Health Medical Center Auxiliary and upcoming fundraisers, visit MonHealth.com/Main/Auxiliary. To learn more about the Mon Health Medical Center Family Birth Center, visit MonHealth.com/Main/Birth-Center.
Mon Health System is an integrated network of physician clinics, outpatient centers and hospitals in north-central West Virginia. It includes five hospitals — its flagship, Mon Health Medical Center in Morgantown; Mon Health Preston Memorial Hospital in Kingwood; Mon Health Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital in Weston; Mon Health Marion Neighborhood Hospital in White Hall; and affiliate, Grafton City Hospital in Grafton.
