A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam, and  for a brief moment its glory and beauty belong to our world. But then it flies on, and though we wish it could have stayed, we feel lucky to have seen it.

From St. Joseph Mercy Hospital - Ann Arbor
Aug. 6, 2004

The last set of boxes you sent were loverly!  A family lost a 3 month old chid in the ER last week and one box went to that family.  Thankfully those are rare occurrences.  Your ministry touches so many people.

Thank you again,
Irene

                             From a Mom
                             July 31, 2004

I am writing to thank you for the beautiful memory box I received in June at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.  My husband and I lost our little boy at 22 weeks of pregnancy.  We named him Owen Mark.  The box was presented to us shortly after his birth and the nurse filled it with a copy of Owen's footprints and some polaroid pictures she took for us.  I have since added prayer cards, a blanket, and letters we have written to Owen.  It is so heartbreaking to lose a child, but it does help to know there are people who care so much.  I get the box out every few days and go through the contents.  It helps me feel closer to Owen.

The box I received was painted by Judy Hansen.  Please extend my sincere gratitude to her.  It is a treasure my husband and I will keep for the rest of our lives.

Sincerely,
Julie

From Bronson Methodist Hospital - Kalamazoo
May 20, 2004

Thank you so much for the beautiful boxes we really do appreciate your work.

The boxes really help make a difficult situation for our families a little better.

Dawn

From Gettysburg Hospital - PA
May 13, 2004

The Memory Boxes arrived yesterday.  THEY ARE BEAUTIFUL!!! Bonnie is so talented.  Words just can't express how grateful we are for her sharing her talent with us and the families of our "Little Angels". 

Thank you, again, so very much and please thank Bonnie for us. 

Rose
Obstetrics

From St. Joseph Mercy Hospital - Clinton Township
Feb,, 2004

Note 1 - Thank you so much for your donation of hand painted memory boxes.  Each one is beautiful.  I know our patients who have experienced a loss will truly appreciate them.  It will help to make a very difficult time a little easier.

Thank You,
Suzanne
Nurse

Note 2 - Please thank all the women who painted the absolutely gorgeous memory boxes that we just received!  These boxes are the most beautiful I've ever seen.  The families who experience a perinatal loss will treasure them forever.

Karen

From Prince George's Hospital Center - MD
Jan. 15, 2004

To the decorative artists of the Great Lakes,
     Thank you for the kindness and generosity reflected in the memory boxes we have received.  Each one is really extraordinary.
     Since we serve an indigent population, and are a high-risk pregnancy center, our moms are greatly blessed when they are given one of these boxes.
     As bereavement support staff we are also blessed by the boxes and the gift of love they represent.  Please extend our thanks to all artists from us.

Sincerely,
Susan
Coordinator Perinatal Bereavement

From Spectrum Health - Grand Rapids
Dec 18, 2003

I want to thank you for the beautiful memory boxes that you painted and sent to Spectrum Health Bereavement Services in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  The boxes are beautiful as before!

These boxes came just in time!  Yesterday, after I received your boxes in the mail, I put them in my office to unpack in the morning.  This morning, bright and early, a night nurse approached me to say that we were out of memory boxes.  I felt like it was Christmas morning as I opened your box.  We were all "ahhing" as we unwrapped each box.

These boxes are so special to the bereaved families.  Last week I gave two boxes to young family who had a set of twins die shortly before birth.  This family commented to the nurse how much they appreciated the love that went into the boxes they received.  Thank you for the time and talent you put into your memory boxes.

Blessings
Nancy
Bereavement Services Coordinator
 

                              From a Mom
                              Dec 15, 2003 

Dear GLDA,

One September 30, 2003, my husband and I delivered our stillborn son, Wyman Mitchell at 37 weeks.  Upon our departure from St. Joe's we received all of Wyjman's belongings in a very beautiful handpainted box.  The memory box is very dear to us as it holds all that we have.  Our box was painted by Deborah Warunek and has brought us comfort during this very hurtful time.  To help others who unfortunately will be in our same situation someday, we would like to make a donation each Christmas in Wyman's memory to help support your group.

Dawn

From Miami Children's Hospital - FL
Oct. 21, 2003

I am writing to let you know that we received the memory boxes you sent to us.  Words cannot express what these boxes will mean to the parents that will unfortunately have to take them home.  They are absolutely beautiful and will make a huge difference for many of our families.  These boxes will serve as a remembrance of the many babies that do not make it home.  Thank you again for your thoughtful time and caring, your generosity will not be forgotten.  It is wonderful to know that there are individuals like yourselves who care so much about others.

Sincerely,
Jennifer
Certified Child Life Specialist 

                              From a Mom
                              Dec 5, 2002 

To Whom It May Concern -

I received one of your beautifully made Memory Boxes on October 31, 2002 at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ypsilanti.  I want to say thank you to Pat Ehnis for her sweet and delicate craftsmanship.  It truly is a beautiful box and I will cherish it forever and put some of my sweet memories of my baby in it!

I was 20 weeks pregnant and my little girl, Lily Rebekah had many problems, genetic and otherwise.... but then at my ultrasound they discovered no heartbeat....so I was faced with delivering my sweet little baby!  It was a long 12 hour delivery even though she was only 7 ounces and 8 inches long.  The staff at St. Joe's was tremendous and I also received a Newborn Loss Basket filled with goodies and mementos.  I tell you, if there ever was a time in life to have a difficult pregnancy - now's the time, because people really know how to care !!  I'm a nurse, by profession, but have been homeschooling my 5 kids these last 12 years... but I see the medical field has come a long way in understanding what patients go through.. and with the help of people like you donating your services.... well, like I said... if there was ever a time!!!

I just wanted to say thank you and keep up the good work!  God does reward those who care AND really show it by acts of kindness!

God bless,
 Lucy

From Parkview Hospital - Fort Wayne, IN
Nov. 2, 2004

Dear Artists,

Thank you so very much for the beautiful boxes you created and sent to our hospital for use as memory boxes.  The parents of the babies who die here are so thrilled to have something tangible to take home with them that contains all the memories they have of their baby.  Boxes as beautiful as those you created will be treasured greatly.

We so appreciate your talent, dedication and selfless giving to this wonderful cause.  Know the chaplains offer words of thanks each time they are in a circumstance to use one of the boxes.

Sincerely,
Jeannine Nix
Lead Chaplain

From A Mom to GLDA member Fern Ameel
December 29, 2004

Ms. Ameel,
     It has been 3 weeks since the birth of William Christopher.  The memorial box so beautifully painted by you holds many memories of our short time with him.  The box sits beside my bed and I love to look at it everyday! (I even took it to Christmas Eve Mass).

Thanks and God Bless
Debby

From Phoeby Putney Hospital, Albany, GA
Februaray 14, 2005

Thank you so much for your contribution to the Memory Boxes program.  Our families and staff have been delighted with them.  I especially like receiving a larger one once in a while because semetimes the NICU babies have more items to put in the boxes.  We appreciate your efforts and it is especially heartwarming to know you do this for a family you will never meet.  It means more than you can imagine...

Bobbie Campbell, LMSW
Farmily Advocate, NICU

From Einstein Weiler Hospital, Bronx, NY
March 28, 2005

Dear All,
     Today I received a shipment of the most beautifull decorated memory boxes.  Thank you all so much for creating them for our grieving families - and also for sending them priority mail as we are just about out of them.
     Each of our families who receives one of these beautiful boxes is so touched by the love and kindness that goes into them.
     On behalf of all of our families, our staff & myself, thanks from the bottom of my heart!

Sincerely,
Mary D. Cavaluzzi, ACSW

From William Beaumont Hospital
April 5, 2005

     I want to personally let you know how much we apprciate that you come to our rescue everytime we call.  I thank you and ask God to bless you and all the people that are invlolved in making this such a success.

Sincerely,
Michelle

From The MacLeod Family
December, 2008

     Enclosed is a donation to the memory box program in remembrance of Wyman's 5th & 6th Christmas.  I treasure the box I have and want to contribute as I know personally how precious the box & program are.  Thank you for the comfort
you all provide.

In peace,
Dawn

From Sparrow Women's Services
November, 2008

To the Great Lakes Decorative Artists:
Though this note is very belated it is no less sincere.

I am writing, on behalf of the Labor and Delivery staff at Sparrow Hospital, to thank the artists for the most beautiful supply of memory boxes for the patients and families who experience the death of their baby.  It would be impossible to relay just how much this means to the parents.  Also, it is important to note that you help the nurse caring for the family as well.  She has something beautiful and tangible that she can present to the family.  Your group becomes part of the journey of grief through the beauty of a box for memories.

Again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Sincerely,
Maureen Dillon RNC

From DMC Children's Hospital of Michigan
February 19, 2009

Dear Friends,
Please accept my sincere appreciation for your gift of eight memory boxes to Children's Hospital of Michigan that were received on February 10, 2009.  We are grateful for your thoughtfulness. 

Sincerely,
 Deanna Scanlon, CTRS
Child Life Project Specialist

From Saint Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston, NJ
April 29, 2009

Dear Great Lakes Decorative Artists,
Thank you for the lover "Memory Boxes" which we received.  Your participation in the Memory Box Program has certainly made a difference for our bereaved families. 

Continue your good work!
The boxes are beautiful!  Thank you so much!

Sincerely,
 Dorothy Kurzweil, LCSW
Maternal Child Division

From Akron City Hospital, Akron, OH
July, 2009

Carolyn, Jan, Mary, Lisa, Dianne, Connie,
Thanks so much for the beautiful Memory Boxes!  They're so beautiful and perfect for our patients.  We appreciate your talent so much.  We loved the angels, bears & flowers.  You're the best!

Carol Clevenger, RN
Bereavement Coordinator

From Rockford Memorial Hospital, Rockford, IL
Aug 17, 2009

Dear Great Lakes Decorative Artists,
It's hard to believe that after one year of being off the Memory Box list we are finally back on and happily fulfilling our families with the beautiful painted art work that your team of artist's are willing to provide for our bereaved families. We are so grateful for your dedication and service to such a worthy cause. I realize that you probably do not receive many “Thank you's” from parents. We do not receive them either. However, I wanted you to know that our Healing Hearts group who supplies the families with all of the brochures, booklets, and infant gowns, etc. feel that all of these items are a vital part of the healing process. We also know that the Memory Box is an extremely important part of healing and wish that we could thank you in person, but our paper thank you will have to suffice for now.
Each one of the painted boxes that came was definitely completed with a magic paintbrush. The colors were beautiful and they warmed my face as soon as I opened the box, I was like a child at Christmas. I could definitely tell that each one of you ladies worked so diligently to make sure that every stroke of the brush was just right. My secretary and I wished that we could have only half as much talent as some of you women that painted the boxes. Many blessings to Jackie Uhrick, Patti Buszczak, Carla Dinkins, Connie Korach and Diana Winn for painting this group of square, circular and oval boxes that came with the most exquisite designs for our families . I know that they will cherish them forever.

Many Blessings to all of you.
Michelle S. Lindsay, BSN, RN

From Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, Cleveland, OH
Oct. 26, 2009

With Warm Appreciation,

Jessi Kompa
Child Life Specialist
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

(Donation) From The MacLeod Farmily, January, 2010

In memory of Wyman Mitchell macLeod and what should have been his 7th Christmas.

In Peace,
Dawn & Mike

From Crouse Hospital, Syacuse, NY
April, 2010

Dear Decorative Artists,

Many special thanks for the beautiful memory Boxes.  They are so nice.  Please know just how much they mean to our bereaved families.

Thanks so much,
Kathy G.
Crouse Hosp.