Angel Wraps project helps families cope

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Shelly Madden, a stay-at-home mother in Stafford, has undertaken a project called Angel Wraps – creating blankets and wraps for stillborn babies from donated gowns.

“I donated my wedding gown a while ago, to the NICU Helping Hands. And I had a very bad miscarriage when I was younger,” Madden said.

According to Madden, the miscarriage was an influence that helped her to begin the project.

After being laid off in October of last year, Madden wanted a way to be active in the community.

“I wanted to find something…and my husband said, ‘Find something you want to get into,’ and I looked at my sewing machine one day and gave it a try,” said Madden.

After meeting with a woman in Texas that runs a similar project called Angel Gowns by Diane, Madden turned her sewing efforts to making the wraps.

“I teamed up with her and she took me under her wing. She donates gowns to Mary Washington [Hospital],” Madden commented.

Madden went to Stafford Hospital and spoke with the staff, and began donating the wraps to the Labor and Delivery unit on a monthly basis.

Each wrap is handmade and comes with two pieces – a wrap and a blanket. Madden makes an effort to uniquely decorate each wrap, including buttons and lace to make them special for the grieving parents.

“I was told [by a parent] that it made it not easier – but it comforted them,” Madden said.

A majority of the materials used to make the wraps are donations. Members of the community, family and friends have all donated their gowns and materials to help Madden create the wraps.

“I want to give everyone credit that has been a big part of this along the way,” Madden said. Groups like “SECA” and “The Hope Center” along with the private donations have allowed her to continue the project.

Currently, Madden is looking for more donations so that she can expand to other area hospitals in the future.