Bridget’s Cradles ™

Ashley Opliger, co-founder and president of Bridget’s Cradles, recently spoke with us about her nonprofit organization, which provides free knitted and crocheted cradles to hospital labor and delivery units. They are then given to bereaved families who have lost babies in the second trimester of pregnancy. We were so touched by Ashley’s mission to provide support and resources to bereaved families that we asked her to tell her story in her own words. “Bridget’s Cradles began after the birth of my daughter, Bridget Faith Opliger, who was stillborn on October 22, 2014, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas. My mom, Teresa Golik, had knit a special cradle for Bridget. It was such a blessing to us to have something to hold Bridget, who was only 13 ounces, and be able to love and bond with her during the time we had with her. “Since then, we have been committed to helping other families suffering the loss of their baby by starting a nonprofit to donate knitted and crocheted cradles to hospitals. The vision of Bridget’s Cradles is to foster a culture of respect and to honor families who have lost babies by providing them with something special for their baby to be held in (and buried in, if they choose). Cradles help bereaved families bond with their baby in a very special way, and they also provide confidence to family members to hold such a tiny, fragile baby. A special charm and prayer square are also

included with the cradle and provide their empty arms with something to hold once their baby is gone and something to remember the sweet memories they made with their baby. “We are continually searching for more volunteers willing to crochet or knit the tiny cradles and prayer squares. Volunteers can live anywhere in the country and crochet in their own homes. Volunteers then mail the cradles directly to us and we complete the finishing touches (adding lace/trim, and our tag and charm); Bridget’s Cradles then distributes the cradles directly to hospitals. Volunteers sign up directly on our website and receive the pattern and all instructions after signing our guidelines form. The application process only takes a few minutes. “Currently Bridget’s Cradles provides cradles to over 45 hospitals in 16 different states and has received more than 2,300 cradles and over 1,300 prayer squares, with the goal of one day reaching bereaved families in hospitals in every state. In addition Bridget’s Cradles offers much-needed support and resources and raises awareness about pregnancy loss through our website and other social media outlets.” I was so overwhelmed by the tender stories of love and care extended to bereaved families coping with the loss of their stillborn child that I applied to be a volunteer and experience what it was like to crochet the tiny cradles. I thoroughly read the instructions and carefully chose just the right yarn. At first, as I sat quietly crocheting the tiny square which was to become the small cradle, I was saddened by the fact there is even a need to create something for such a devastating human experience. But the more I worked on the cradle, the more I realized what it would mean to a family to have such precious memories of their child, knowing someone had taken the time to crochet a gift of love. I finished my first cradle and knew that I would make several more before I sent them off to be completed by the volunteers who add the lace trim and special charms to the cradles and prayer squares. Crocheters have such giving hearts that we knew immediately we needed to share this wonderful opportunity with our readers. To read more stories, learn more about the organization and apply to become a volunteer and crochet the cradles and prayer squares, please visit www.bridgetscradles.com. You may also request a volunteer form by mailing your request to: Bridget’s Cradles, P.O. Box 130, Andover, KS 67002.