HENDERSONVILLE, TN – The Birth Center at TriStar Hendersonville was recently the recipient of a donation of bereavement bags to provide to grieving families after an infant loss. Blayklee’s Bags was started by an Arizona mother who lost her baby girl midway through her pregnancy. She took that pain and turned it into action for other grieving families by making bereavement bags for others facing the same heartbreak. TriStar Hendersonville is the first hospital outside of Arizona to receive the bags.

“The Birth Center continues to strive to provide more resources and tools for our families at the Birth Center coping with such a loss,” said Leslie McClendon, Manager of the Nursery and NICU at the Birth Center. “We are grateful for this donation from Blayklee’s Bags that will allow us to reduce suffering and provide compassionate care to the families we serve.”

Aprilee Pena began making Blayklee’s Bags after she lost her daughter Blayklee in May 2019. The bags are provided in six different sizes for both boys and girls, starting at 14 weeks gestation to full term babies. Each bag includes two of each item so that the parents can put one on the baby and keep one. Each item is matching and color coordinated with bags, including flannel blankets, sewn diapers, hats, baby bracelets, a necklace, a bear and a picture quote. Aprilee also writes a letter to each family.

“I designed these beautiful bags for moms as something they could use to make memories while in the hospital as that time is precious,” said Pena. “A friend of mine recently lost her baby girl and delivered at TriStar Hendersonville, and she encouraged me to reach out to provide bags to help honor babies at your facility in her baby girl’s honor.”

This is another addition to the bereavement program at the Birth Center at TriStar Hendersonville. Recently, the bereavement committee partnered with Rachel’s Gift to offer a comprehensive and compassionate bereavement education program to clinical staff to better support families facing this outcome. Families will also receive supportive follow-up care, support group access and connections with local, regional and national resources.

For more information about the Birth Center at TriStar Hendersonville, go to TriStarHendersonville.com.