A Labor of Love—Volunteers Sew Burial Gowns for Infants
"I have great empathy for women who have lost children, because that happened to me twice. I know how they feel."
(Houston)—Augusta Robel sews burial gowns for babies so small they can't fit into traditional infant clothes. The program, called Project Angel Wings, helps the parents of infants who die at Texas Children's Hospital's Neonatal Intensive Care nursery. According to a report in the Houston Chronicle, before the gowns were available, nurses sometimes had no choice but to dress "preemies" in clothes that were too big for them or simply not as elegant. (Photo by: Steve Ueckert: CHRONICLE)
When Robel first started sewing the gowns, she says she cried every time she threaded her needle. ""I feel moved to do it," said Robel. "We feel like we're creating beauty when we sew. I have great empathy for women who have lost children," she added, "because that happened to me twice. I know how they feel."
"The families just really love seeing their child in such a beautiful gown," said Meghan Bertani, a child-life specialist at Texas Children's.
Reporter Alexis Grant notes that the project was created by West University Place resident Karen Julian, who—when she realized that so few clothes are made in the smallest sizes—decided to create them herself. With the help of several seamstresses, she reportedly created patterns for tiny gowns that are cute while also hiding any remaining physical signs of babies' illnesses.
"It's like sewing a doll's dress," Julian said, noting that a seam difference of a quarter-inch could mean a new size. "It's very intricate work...My goal was to let them know that someone cared, to provide them with some level of comfort in this very difficult time."
