After Death of Newborn, Family Comforts New Parents With Memory Boxes

When Michelle and Erik Williams lost their son two days after he was born, the hospital gave the parents a memory box so they could hold on to the time they had with him.

Wanting other parents to have that same comfort, they've assembled and delivered similar boxes to area hospitals for the past two years, including in New Lenox this week, through Sawyer's Heart Project.

Sawyer was born June 1, 2010, at Comer Children’s Hospital at University of Chicago, and he died two days later. He had a congenital heart defect, Tetralogy of Fallot, including a large hole between his left and right ventricles.

"It's so great our son can live on and touch other people's lives and provide comfort," Erik Williams said during a visit to Silver Cross on Tuesday.

Learn more about Sawyer's Heart Project on Facebook.

Erik and Nicole Ulivi of Angels of Hope delivered 40 memory boxes to Silver Cross. There are different boxes set aside for micro-premature babies (between 18 and 24 weeks), premature babies (24 to 36 weeks) and full-term babies, and for the first time this year, there were boxes or parents who had a miscarriage. 

The boxes include items such as blankets, hats, hand molds, stuffed animals and a camera to take photos. They're usually given to parents immediately after a birth, and hospital employees will discuss what's in the box.

"When this came along it was a godsend," said Marilyn Paoella, director of women and infant services at Silver Cross.

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