Alexandra Reeves
When families must part with their stillborn baby before they've had sufficient time to bond and grieve, the results can be devastating. It's because of this that Ottumwa High School senior and Girl Scout Ambassador, Alexandra Reeves, decided she needed to do something.
“I have an interest in healthcare and hope to be a nurse practitioner," said Reeves. Because of her previous community service work with Ottumwa Regional, she learned nurses wanted a Cuddle Cot but were unable to get one.
A Cuddle Cot cools a baby’s body while in the hospital room, extending the time a family has to hold them, bond and grieve. In a warm room, tissues can deteriorate quickly, therefore cooling the baby is absolutely essential.
“I decided to make this part of my Girl Scout Gold Award Project,” she said. The Gold Award is the highest achievement within the Girl Scouts of the USA. To secure funding for the Cuddle Cot, Reeves contacted several fraternal organizations. She and a nurse presented to the Ottumwa Evening Lions, who committed the full amount needed. Although her initial goal was to obtain a Cuddle Cot for Ottumwa Regional, she also secured a commitment from the Lions in Centerville to place one at the hospital there pending facility approval. She has raised additional funds for a third Cuddle Cot and may pursue a fourth if needed.
“I also found out that few amenities are available to families of stillborns," she said. Parents have difficulty finding clothing suitable for burial, especially for small stillborns born prematurely.
She learned about other groups who recycled wedding dresses into burial gowns. Reeves turned this idea into a reality. She formed a group called Forever Angels that uses volunteer seamstresses to recycle donated wedding dresses into burial gowns for stillborn babies and infants who pass after birth. Donations are received via a Facebook page she started.
“Initially I wanted to get enough dresses and seamstresses to sew angel gowns for Ottumwa Regional," said Reeves. "Very quickly I knew I would be able to expand well beyond this. Forever Angels has received over 40 wedding dresses and has over 20 seamstresses and dresses just keep coming.”
Forever Angels will continue to provide dresses to hospitals as long as dresses and seamstresses are available. “Support for the project has been awesome," she said. "I have seen it already have an impact on dress donors and seamstresses, even though no families have used a Cuddle Cot yet or received an angel gown. I hope my project will bring families some comfort.”
To share her project with the public, Reeves is hosting an Angel Dress Showcase on Sunday, January 22 from 1-3 p.m. at the Rural Health Education Center at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa. "I hope that dress donors, seamstresses, financial sponsors and others who have contributed in some way to the project as well as the general public will attend to support the mission of my project and to see the first group of dresses before they are sent to area hospitals," said Reeves. “I hope people will come and see how beautiful and perfect the dresses are for their purpose.”
