Greyson's Gift

A year looking back....

2011-10-03T20:34:00.000-07:00

A lot has happened this past year. And I am ashamed to see that I have not written in at all in that time.

Another difficult pregnancy, followed by a beautiful baby boy has kept me quite busy and out of the loop for a while now. And if I am being honest with myself and all of you, I just wanted to enjoy my new little bundle. I wanted to breath him in every second of the day. He is such a little miracle in my eyes. There are no words I have to describe how I feel holding him each day. . . So I put Greyson's Gift on the back burner. I didn't want to remember all the hurt from loosing a baby, I wanted to enjoy my baby I have now.

But despite my long absence on this blog, something wonderful still progressed. I am still surprised each time I get a new package at my door from some wonderful group or person who took the time to make blankets for my cause. Yes, I still receive blankets monthly!!! Even more amazing, is the emails I get weekly asking how to start this program in their own areas. I am overcome with the response from all of you, and your willingness to share your time and talents with others in your community. Many church groups, families, and individuals have started supplying blankets to their local hospitals and funeral homes in their areas. So many, that I have lost count and can no longer keep track!

Thank you for your support, and your hard work. It doesn't really do justice to how I feel, as always, my words cannot express.

May our Father in Heaven bless you for all you have done to bless others.

I am still here...

2010-04-30T06:28:00.000-07:00

Finally, I am able to post something! Blogger has been giving me problems, and I am very far behind.

Just a few updates:

We went back to Utah to visit family a few weeks ago, and my Mom and Sister loaded me up with all the blankets they had been storing from donations they had received. (Well, I shouldn't say ALL the blankets, because I had to leave some behind. I couldn't fit all of them in one suitcase!)

Thanks to everyone back home who has helped. There are too many of you to name individually, but you know who you are!

Next thing is, I think I am just about ready to make the big "delivery" to the funeral homes around Dallas/Fort Worth. I can't believe I have gotten so many blankets in such a short amount of time. Thanks to all of you who have helped make this possible! I will be sure to get pictures, and tell you every detail of my experience. The past donations I have been on, have always been bitter sweet to say the least. But this time, I am really looking forward to taking all of your wonderful, beautiful blankets. I might be getting used to it, or maybe time heals all wounds. Whatever the reason....I am grateful.

See you soon, Meryn

So many of you have helped...

2010-04-14T12:43:00.001-07:00

I received another email today. I am so grateful for all of you out there helping out in your own areas. Thank you so much for your hard work and being such wonderful people!

Hello Meryntha,

Our ladies in the Silverbell Ward Relief Society enjoyed so much making the little blankets and were grateful for the experience. Over 40 blankets were donated to the Tucson Northwest Women's Center. It was a labor of love. Thank you for sharing your story. LY, Joan

Thank you to all the ladies in the Silverbell Ward. I hope you know how much this means to me and the mothers your blankets will help.

One great experience

2010-02-22T08:31:00.000-08:00

This story begins a couple of weeks ago when I ran into the gentlemen from Blessings Funeral Home here in Mansfield. His name is Jason. He was great to work with during our experience with Greyson. I will never forget him and what he did for our family.

I had been meaning to get in touch with him for quite some time, but couldn't bring myself to even look up his phone number. I even had some blankets set aside, especially for Blessings. But that wasn't enough motivation for me to call.

So one Saturday, we were out running errands all day. It was getting late, and the last thing I wanted to do was run home and fix dinner. So we stopped at my son's favorite restaurant, Texas Roadhouse. We have only been to this particular one once before. (On that day, we ran into Jason. It was interesting seeing him in different circumstances, other than how we initially met.) Anyway, as we were leaving the restaurant, my eyes happened to rest open a man standing at the jukebox. I walked past him, and thought to myself, "Hmm, that kind of looks like the man from Blessings Funeral Home. Wouldn't that be something if I saw him here once again." Then I stopped walking. I just had to go back and find out. I had prayed for strength to call or stop by. Maybe, just maybe, I wouldn't need to. And guess what... It WAS him! I told him all about Greyson's Gift and what all you wonderful women out there were doing. He was so excited! I know it was divine intervention that we were both there that night. Sheesh, if it were up to me, I would still be waiting for my nerves to settle.

So this past weekend, my husband and I delivered blankets to Blessings. And guess what? He talked to the owner which has 12 other mortuaries around Dallas/Fort Worth, and they all want blankets as well!!!! He told us that one if Fort Worth has many child deaths each year. No one knows why this is, but they could really use our blankets. They want flannel blankets as well as afghans. It was wonderful to see how happy he was. What a great experience!!!

2010-02-20T09:38:00.000-08:00

Once again I feel overwhelmed.

I apologize to all those who have not heard from me for a while. I am sorry for not answering emails, phone calls, and letters. I am sorry for not posting new info or keeping everyone up to date lately. I have tried to use the "business" approach when dealing with Greyson's Gift. You know, keep things level, don't add all of my emotional stuff into it.

But the fact is . . . I AM emotional about it. I am all twisted up in every detail of this. Greyson's Gift has taken off like wildfire, (which I couldn't be happier about), but it has left me running behind to catch up. I want to be confident, well organized, and strong with all dealings here. But my feelings get in the way. I can't talk to anyone without getting a little choked up; not to mention my heart beats out of my chest. I can't read an email without getting tears in my eyes. And then there are the packages of blankets from readers like you. Which arrive weekly. I am so excited to open each one, but at the same time, I am sad. They remind me of what I lost. I go through my whole experience again.

And by the end of the day, I am emotionally exhausted. I never want to forget about why I started this, but some moments, I don't want to re-live it.

So why am I telling you all this? Because I am changing the way I run things. I am going to stop fighting to be super women and have everything together. Its not working. I can't keep waiting to do things because its too hard today. Today, I will cry, today I will be a wreck. Tomorrow will be better. Because tomorrow is never going to come. I am always going to be emotionally attached to this cause. Its the whole reason I started this in the first place! So I will pray for strength. I will ask the Lord for grace to help me where I fall short.

Until then, its me. Please forgive me for the unanswered emails, and letters. I am sorry for not following through on things I have promised. I am afraid that somewhere I have offended someone. I am sorry. I WILL be better. I might be a basket case, but I will do what I set out to do.

Thank You to all those who have shared your stories, sent blankets, given fabric, devoted your time organizing your own blanket deliveries, and much more. Without you, I could not do this. So many women will be touched by your efforts.

Be prepared to hear a lot more from me. I warn you its not always going to be pretty, or organized, or informative. But it will be genuine, personal and from the heart. I feel like there are times in your life when you have opportunities to become refined. To become a better person than before. This is my time, this is my journey.

I recieved an email yesterday...

2010-02-13T07:15:00.000-08:00

On behalf of the bereavement program at IMC I would like to thank you for your generous donation of assorted blankets and quilts. Each of our grieving families appreciate the individualized beautiful memory items for their babies.
Please thank each of your contributors for their countless hours of work in our behalf.
With gratitude,
Shauna
IMC Labor and Delivery Bereavement Coordinator

Its Harder Than it Should Be

2009-12-14T06:57:00.000-08:00

I finally did it.

I have been apprehensive about delivering blankets to the hospital where we lost Greyson. I have had the blankets neatly stashed away for a couple of months now. (YES, that long!) I made all the arrangements, talked to the director many times, and even made an appt. to deliver them in October. Which I then cancelled the day before. I blamed it on sick children, but I could have made it if I had wanted to. It was just an easy excuse.

Why did I not want to go? Wasn't this the whole point? Many ladies out there were counting on me to do as I promised! So many of you have touched me with your stories, words of comfort, and not to mention the amazing, precious blankets I have received. Yet, still, I could not bring myself to go.

My husband offered to do it for me. My friends offered to take them for me. Even though I was thankful, I said no. I had to do this myself. Some months before I promised a very special little boy I would do this. I would be brave. I would keep my promise.

It wasn't until I started hearing back from all of you who have chosen to do this for your own hospital, that I decided to go. What an inspiration and help all of you have been. I love hearing about your experiences. Please continue to share them with me and my family. May all of you have a wonderful Christmas season. May God bless you and your family, just as you have blessed mine.

Love, Meryn

TALLY UP...

2009-12-11T11:51:00.001-08:00

335

blankets have been donated so far!
THANK YOU soo much!

3rd Donation Down

2009-12-07T12:16:00.000-08:00

We have made a donation to our third hospital!!

This has been such an amazing experience for me. I am so touched by each blanket I receive. They are so precious, and perfect!

Thanks to everyone who has made this possible. What a great thing you have done for me and the mothers out there who will treasure your sweet blankets!

(I will post my experiences with this soon!)

WE MADE OUR FIRST GOAL!

2009-10-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

Yeah, Yeah, YEAH!
We have made it to our FIRST goal for Arlington Medical Center!

I will be delivering the precious,
adorable,
perfect blankets
you have all made very soon.

I will be sure to keep all of you posted. Thanks so much for the wonderful work you have all done!

Our next hospital will be....

Mansfield Methodist Hospital
Mansfield, TX

Helping in your area...

2009-09-24T06:56:00.001-07:00

I have had many contact me about starting this in their own areas. Some of you have volunteered to help with the hospitals and mortuaries close to home.

As much as I would love to contact every hospital, I cannot. I am extremely grateful for those that are willing to spread this out across the world! I am putting together "start-up" packets for anyone out there that would like to make a difference in their own communities. It will contain information on how to contact your own hospital, and other important information to help you get started.

If anyone is interested in being a sponsor for Greyson's Gift in their own community, please email me. I will get out a packet to you right away. This would be a great job for someone who may not know how to sew, but would still like to contribute in some way!

Thanks so much to all of you!
Every time I receive a package
with your precious blankets inside, it warms my heart.

I feel myself starting to heal, and I owe it to all of you!

2009-09-03T09:53:00.000-07:00

I am looking for your help. Hospitals all across the country are in need of small, very small, baby blankets. In cases of fetal demise, babies are so tiny, even the smallest nursery blanket is much too big to wrap around their tiny bodies.

I know how parents feel when they are presented with their tiny baby, for the first and last time. Having to deal with a large blanket that doesn't fit, is a distraction. And, unnecessary.

If you can sew or crotchet/knit, would you please help me to supply blankets for these mothers?

My doctor informed me that 30% of all pregnancies end in fetal demise!

I know we can make a small yet, dramatic difference in the experience these mothers and fathers have in the hospital. It is heartbreaking for the nurses to try and present these tiny babies in the best way possible to grieving parents. They are extremely appreciative of any donations we can give.

What hospitals are looking for.

2009-09-01T11:17:00.000-07:00

Our first donations will go to the hospital where I delivered Greyson. I am wanting to supply them with a never-ending stash of blankets, but to start with....

what they need:
12" x 12" and 24" x 24" flannel receiving blankets, in small pink, baby blue, white, and yellow prints. Use your best judgement, we don't want the prints of the blankets to detract from very small babies.

The blankets also need to be double layered.

For those who have already jumped in to help and have blankets other than the specifics above, DON'T WORRY! We can still use your blankets. (check out the next post)

They have also asked for baby gowns, which we will get to soon, but I am starting with the blankets first.

What mortuary's are looking for.

2009-08-25T11:31:00.000-07:00

When my sister learned of me losing my baby, she went to work straight away. She made the most delicate and gorgeous baby afghan for me. It is the one pictured above with the teddy bear. I recieved that bear from the mortuary. Those two things, I hold dear to my heart. They are all I have of my little baby, and I treasure them.

Tate Mortuary in Tooele, Utah was amazing! First of all, they would not accept any type of payment for all they did. Which was alot! My amazing sister had a great idea on how I could repay them for all they did for us. Give donations of crocheted blankets, that they may use during instances like mine. My mother has contacted them, and they were ecstatic about the idea! They are looking for any type, size, and color. And they will use them for many circumstances. Whether it's to give to the parents as a token of comfort, or to wrap and bury their baby in.

So whether you sew, knit or crotchet, you can make something very special for a greiving family.

I am just getting started here, so please check back often for new information.

2009-08-24T12:16:00.000-07:00

2009-08-18T19:10:00.000-07:00

Blankets are starting to come in!

I am in awe of all the wonderful talented women out there!
Thanks so much for your time, talents and labor.

I am hoping to have Arlington Medical Center supplied with blankets by the end of the month. We are close! Keep them coming, there is always another hospital waiting!

Our goal for Arlington Medical Center

2009-08-09T19:05:00.000-07:00

I don't have time to update the graph, but I wanted to let everyone know where we stand.

Our current total of blankets is...
35 small blankets
8 medium blankets

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Our goal for Arlington Medical Center is getting close!
We need more 24"x 24" blankets.