I didn't know how much I needed this.
It was the first time I felt I was able to say good-bye.
We hear the words "you are not alone", but tonight I actually felt like it. Surrounded by my own community of people.
These are just some of the words we have heard from people who have attended our Evenings of Remembrance. Join us on Tuesday, October 3rd, as we join together once again as a community of parents, family members, and friends - all touched by the heartache of pregnancy or newborn loss.
Here are the details:

• Tuesday, October 3rd at 6:00 pm
• Wings of Hope memorial site in Calvary Cemetery (behind the chapel and main office building)
• An ecumenical service - Pastor Dave from New Creation will be our faith leader
• Music and poem readings
• An opportunity to place flowers at the memorial site in memory of your child (we provide cut flowers but you may also bring your own)
• An opportunity to light a candle at the end of the service, in recognition of the National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month (October) - bring your own candle or use one of ours
• Limited seating at the site (you may also stand or bring your own lawn chair)
• Light refreshments and fellowship following the service
• In the event of rain, we will move inside to the chapel.

Please let us know if you have any questions about the service. All are welcome and encouraged to attend this Evening of Remembrance and living reminder of hope.

This first image is a throwback to November of 2015, when a spray-painted line and foundation for the central statue were the only hints of change to come. Since that time, Wings of Hope has been blessed by the generosity of community members. We have been able to grow from those stark white lines to the beautiful walkway, carving, benches, and surrounding trees and flowers. 
More than that, though, we have been able to keep growing in community awareness and involvement. But we still have so far to go. 

• We still have just under $3000 left to pay on the work that has already been done.
• We are working on plans for providing care packages to mothers who have to endure pregnancy loss.
• We have to continue to engage the community and bring awareness, support and light to this often unspoken tragedy that strikes 1 in 4.

Please consider helping us in these goals!

• Donate directly to the cause. Every donation is greatly appreciated!
• Order a paver. This is a lasting legacy and show of support.
• Give us your input into the care packages.
• Participate in our fundraisers. Have an idea or opportunity for us? Let us know!
• Let us know how we can keep sharing the mission of Wings of Hope. Our committee members are available to speak with groups, we have brochures we can provide, and are looking for community partners.

Have you visited the Wings of Hope site yet? When you go, you'll see pavers that honor the life of a child. You'll see pavers given in memory of family members. You'll see pavers engraved with messages of support. And you will also see many more pavers that are yet to be engraved.

The Paver Project
We need your help to fill these pavers with messages and names. The Paver Project is our summer push to get as many pavers engraved as possible by fall. Doing so does two very important things:

• Builds a community of support to grieving parents in Southern MN and acknowledges their losses.
• Provides essential funds so that Wings of Hope can continue to provide services to these families.

Our Challenge to You
Get as many people together as possible to help get these pavers engraved! Below are just a few ways to join the Paver Project this summer.

• 4 friends each chip in $25 and order a paver to support a friend who has lost a child
• A family gathers funds to order a paver with their family name - a lasting legacy of compassion
• A group of co-workers gathers donations to give a paver order to a family who has lost a child

We want to hear from you! How can you help get these pavers engraved? 

Ready to show your support for Wings of Hope? Order your own embroidered shirt today! The soft grey t-shirt has our logo embroidered on the front in purple, and is available in adult sizes S, M, L, XL, and XXL. 

All proceeds from the shirt orders go towards expenses for Wings of Hope, which include just under $3000 left to pay on the existing site. We would love to be able to complete this payment by fall, before our next Evening of Remembrance, and we need your help. After we complete our payment on the site, we are ready to move forward with additional projects in the community, including fundraising for Cuddle Cots for local hospitals, support kits for moms who experience pregnancy loss, and more!

Print, complete, and mail your order form to Julie (our committee member), at the address provided. The $20 fee includes shipping to your home address.
​

We are continuing to plan our next Evening of Remembrance, and want to share more of the details with you. Pastor Michael Omtvedt, from Hosanna Lutheran Church in Mankato, will be leading our service for the evening. The service is ecumenical – and will include music, prayers, special readings, and reflection. Musicians for the service will be vocalist Amy Kuch and guitarist Pam Schultze.

• Thursday, May 11th
• 6:00 pm
• Wings of Hope memorial site in Calvary Cemetery, Mankato

As we did in our first Evening of Remembrance, we will also be inviting all families who have been touched by pregnancy loss and newborn death to place a flower at the burial urn (we will provide flowers, but you may also bring your own if you would like).

We will have limited seating available at the site. You are free to bring your own lawn chairs or stand for the service (we anticipate approximately 30 minutes). Following the service we invite you to join us for light refreshments at the site.

No matter where or when pregnancy loss occurs – there are physical, mental, and emotional issues facing mothers. We have heard from so many moms who just did not feel that they understood what it was going to be like – enduring a miscarriage at home – which only made this time in their lives all the more painful.

Sometimes referred to in the medical community as expectant management, waiting for a miscarriage to occur at home after the doctor has delivered the devastating news that your child has died is like waiting on a lonely road for a deadly car crash you know will happen before your eyes. You feel helpless and out of control. Many women are sent home from medical offices with condolences and instructions to call the office after passing large clots, or prepare to experience what will feel like a heavy menstrual cycle with cramping.
Too often we just don’t know how to actually prepare – and respond.

So – let’s change that.

• Let’s be willing to share our experiences and talk about what to really expect.
• Let’s help each other learn how to ask questions in the doctor’s office.
• Let’s keep sharing information about Wings of Hope. You cannot predict who in your life might need these resources.

One of the most thorough and thoughtful examples we have seen online for how to prepare to endure a miscarriage at home is at this website. *DISCLOSURE* The website provides the following warning about the content (graphic content is in words – not images): WARNING: Possible graphic content. Everyone’s miscarriage will be different and we want to encompass most experiences.

For mothers who choose, Wings of Hope does offer the common burial option for babies who die earlier than 20 weeks gestation. You can request a moisture-proof container from your physician for the purposes of transporting your child’s remains to the mortuary. Small, waterproof containers you might have at your home can work as well You must call the Mankato Mortuary (Riverfront Drive location) to make arrangements and this will include signing a release form to participate in the burial option.

Please let us know what questions you have - let's keep the conversation going in our efforts to provide the resources we know women in our community need!

Losing a child during pregnancy can make you feel like you lose all of the "firsts", too. First smiles, first steps, first words, and first birthdays. It is easy to focus on those firsts we lose because we were planning a whole lifetime of firsts, seconds, and more. While they may not be the traditional "firsts", it can be comforting to think about, share memories of, and maybe record in a scrapbook the firsts that you did get to experience with your child.

• The first time the line turned pink on the pregnancy test.
• The first time you told someone you were expecting.
• The first names you started thinking of for your child.
• The first doctor appointment you attended.
• The first time you lovingly patted your belly.
• The first baby item you wanted to buy for your child.
• The first time you imagined your child's face.

Cherish these firsts and others that remind you of the joy of parenting your child. What ways do you honor the memory of your child?

This is the time of year in Minnesota when we do so much in the dark. Some travel to and from work when it is still dark. If we grocery shop past 4:30 we're unloading those bags in the dark. And even though there might be Christmas lights twinkling in the distance, it can still feel cold, dark, and lonely, especially if you are moving through the holiday season while missing your child.

I encourage you to take a few minutes to stop by the Wings of Hope site in Calvary Cemetery (the gates are open 7 days a week sunrise to sunset). Nestled between evergreens you will find this place of warm remembrance. Bring a cup of coffee or cocoa and sit on the benches. Read the poignant paver inscriptions. Bring a friend and talk about your baby. Most of all, know that you are not alone in your grief journey. As we come together as a community and learn to support each other, we realize that we are not just alone in the dark, and we can be that light for someone else who needs it.

Have someone who loves to camp on your holiday shopping list? How about these pine cone fire-starters we have available for our craft and bake sale?! Set in wax with a candle wick woven through the pine cone, those outdoor enthusiasts will love the ease they have of starting their next bonfire! Just $0.75/each - and you can pre-order yours today if you can't make it to the sale on the 19th.

How about a gift to pamper someone (including yourself)? We also have these peppermint bath salts made with essential oils - just $4/jar - and you can pre-order these today, too!

We are getting more items ready for our fundraising efforts at the Holiday Expo on Saturday, November 19th in Mankato at the Madison East Center. Keep checking our site for updates and sneak peeks. Hope to see you there on the 19th!

The Wings of Hope committee continues to prepare for the craft and bake sale on November 19th! This is the first time we will be participating in the annual event at the Madison East Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., where vendors of all kinds will have tables set up with their handmade designs, crafts, and delicious baked goods. Come and shop for a good cause at our booth and help support families in Southern MN who experience pregnancy and newborn loss. All proceeds from the sale at our booth go to Wings of Hope and the services we provide.

Have something to share that we can add to our booth? We still need donations of crafts of all kinds and baked goods - please consider helping us reach our fundraising goals! And remember, you can shop early by looking at the items we have already available on our blog and sending us an email to let us know what you would like!