Tiny Gowns Become a "Huge Gift" for Grieving Families

MARYSVILLE — Michelle Matthews has never met any of the hundreds of parents here and around the country for whom she has sewn and donated baby gowns.

The gowns are all for newborns who have died at hospital intensive care units.

The gowns are stored at medical facilities for such a sad occasion, and Matthews doesn’t know when or to whom they’ll be given.

That’s all right, she says. “There are times when what is a small act to one person is such a huge gift to the other.”

She sews her gowns in three sizes; the smallest so tiny it’s just a diamond-shaped wrap with a little pocket and a ribbon to close it.

Matthews began her project at the end of 2011 using her own wedding gown.

“I didn’t see any reason to hang onto it forever in my closet,” she says.

As word spread, she began getting emails from around the country from women offering their gowns.

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teedie2 said:

... making me cry.

When we had a full-term stillborn baby girl, I called a nice department store and asked them to deliver a very pretty baby dress to me in hospital, which they did. My dh took the dress to the funeral home so our baby could be buried in it.

I can easily imagine the comfort that the beautiful dresses from Mrs. Matthews gives to bereaved parents. So sweet.

That dress and a funeral was all we could do for our little girl ...

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