New group comforts parents

Tag : Printed Handkerchief

Sheila Courchaine, Carmel, started the Carmel chapter of Threads ofLove, a project with more than 100 chapters around the country. Hergranddaughter was stillborn in March after being diagnosed in thewomb with Trisomy 13, a fatal genetic disease.
The founding Threads of Love chapter in Baton Rouge, La., sent thefamily clothes and a blanket for the baby. Courchaine started thelocal chapter after finding none here.
"I found all these wonderful women to help me because they've lostbabies," she said.
A Threads of Love emergency kit includes a gown, a printed prayer,a recognition of life certificate, a crocheted hat, a blanket and ahandkerchief.
Courchaine said stillborns are not issued birth or deathcertificates. The gowns, embroidered with crosses, are intended toprovide a more solemn way of recognizing the child's life anddeath.
"There are outfits out there but they're all happy looking, withthings like teddy bears," Courchaine said. "It's not appropriate."
St. Vincent Carmel Hospital has requested 20 gowns a month for itshigh-risk pregnancy unit. At Tuesday's shower, the Carmel chapter'sfirst event, Kathy Carroll, bereavement coordinator at St. VincentCarmel, will speak. It also will include desserts, coffee and asilent auction.
The shower, which is open to the public, will be from 7 to 9 p.m.in the Holy Family Room at Our Lady of Mount Carmel church. Thechurch is at Oak Ridge Road and 146th Street. The chapter requestsguests bring a lady's handkerchief.