“It’s the scariest day of your life.” Jennifer went to her doctor, at 37 weeks of pregnancy, and heard the devastating news; the baby had no heartbeat. Later that day, with her husband at her side, Jennifer gave birth to Vivienna. With profound sadness and shock, they said goodbye to their daughter. Jennifer and her family received a Comfort Box from Sarah’s Heart at Methodist Hospital. “The box was a comfort to us. It’s the weirdest and most horrible feeling in the world to leave the hospital without your baby.” Women have shared that having the box to hold on to when they left the hospital was helpful.
Sarah’s Heart provides Comfort Boxes containing a teddy bear, journal, book about pregnancy and early infant loss, a Willow Tree figurine, $10 coffee gift card, and a brochure on Sarah’s Heart Services. Two months after Vivienna’s death, Jennifer felt the need to talk to someone and connected with Sarah’s Heart to receive counseling. Receiving counseling at no cost was a tremendous help to her and her family as they began the healing process.
Sarah’s Heart provided 200 Comfort Boxes to families experiencing the loss of a baby in 2017 and over 200 Comfort boxes in 2018. We provided over 200 boxes in 2019 as well. In 2017 we expanded our reach to Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) and in 2018 we began supporting families at North Central Baptist Hospital. In 2019 we expanded again to support families at Texas Vista Medical Center.
Our Comfort Boxes are now available to families experiencing loss in nine area hospitals: Methodist Main, University Hospital, BAMC, North Central Baptist, Texas Vista Medical Center, St Luke’s, Methodist Metropolitan, Methodist Stone Oak, and Mission Trails Baptist Hospital.