The Briggs operation!!!

When we were in the hospital the social worker came and talked to us.  He talked about how mourning and grieving were both essential in the healing process.  He went on to say that grieving something we do by ourselves, I think of as the ugly cry in the shower:(, the hurt that is inside and eating us up inside.  He then continued by saying that we need to mourn, which is the external part of healing.  Sharing with loved ones around, telling our story, expressing outwardly.  He mentioned the scripture that Christ teaches us to Mourn with those that mourn.  It hit me during thanksgiving that there are so many parents that will and are going through what we are going through.  All circumstances are different, but losing a child any way it happens hits deep to your core.  Your life is shattered and so many families feel that way.  

     This holiday season I felt responsible to help or *mourn with those that mourn.  I decided to honor Briggs by making kits and stuff and donating them to the hospital.  One thing we cherish is the baseball that sits on our mantel.  This baseball has our our sweet Brigham's hand/foot prints.  The one next to it has our family members signatures and then we all signed one and put it with Brigham in the casket.  This was something Adam cherished even more than me, because it was his boy with a baseball.  His dream was to have him play baseball and sports are something big in our family.  

     So anyways, we thought we would donate something for the dads.  So we decided that every week from thanksgiving up until Christmas we would get together on mondays and put together kits and then deliver them to the hospital.  We wanted to do all the hospitals in the valley.  The first week we just assembled and then the following weeks we assembled and delivered.

Payson hospital-

Utah Valley Regional Medical Center-

Orem Hospital-

Timpanogos Hospital-

American Fork Hospital-

We delivered a total of 100 baseball imprint kits, 50 kleenex boxes, 50 travel kleenexes, 50 photo albums, and over 50 homemade decorated boxes for the families to hold their memorabilia in.  

My favorite part was the delivery part.  We got to go to the hospital and deliver it straight to the nurses.  To tell them they are making a difference and let them know each baby matters no matter if they live long or not was so touching.  We would end by the whole group singing Families can be together forever. This started as wanting to give back, but ended as a touching tradition that we will do every Christmas!