AUSTIN, Texas — Losing a child shortly after they're born is one of the most traumatic experiences a parent can face.
- Group makes burial gowns for babies
- They can make 12 gowns from a single wedding dress
- Looking for more volunteers
A local group called Angel Wings of Lake Travis is hoping to ease their pain. Volunteers turn donated wedding dresses into burial gowns for babies that don’t make it home from the hospital.
The wedding dresses are logged, tagged, photographed on mannequins and deconstructed. They are then refashioned by seamstresses and turned into an “angel gown” for newborns.
Angel Wings of Lake Travis member, Tara Shaw, said the loss of a child is one that she knows all too well.
Photo of gowns made by Angel Wings of Lake Travis (Mimi Haruna / Spectrum News)
"I know from experience it’s the worst day ever and that you are not prepared for any of that so that if we can take just a little of that pain away and that's basically why we — well that's why I do it. It makes my heart feel good," said Shaw.
The group says it can make more than two dozen angel gowns from a single wedding dress. The gowns are then delivered to hospitals throughout the state and country.
Angel Wings of Lake Travis is not in need of any more wedding dresses but instead they would like more ties. They use the garment to spruce up the burial gowns for baby boys.
The group is always looking for more seamstresses to volunteer. Visit the group’s website to learn how you can help.