Bear Hugs From Barrett

Bear Hugs From Barrett was created in memory of Barrett Matthew Meston who was born on August 30, 2015 at 23 weeks. Barrett survived in the NICU for 10 days before he gained his angel wings. When Barrett was in the hospital his parents brought in a stuffed lion that was a gift from his dad to his mom on their first date. The plan was to take a picture of Barrett with the lion every week to see how big and strong he grew. Unfortunately, they were only able to take a growth picture at one week because he passed away 3 days later. The day Barrett passed away his family took many pictures of him with the lion which they now cherish. The lion has since come to represent Barrett in the family. His parents have spent many nights holding the lion and take comfort in knowing that the lion had contact with Barrett during his short time on earth. The lion is taken on family trips and included in family pictures to bring Barrett’s memory to life. 

 

After Barrett passed, his family decided they wanted to honor his memory and help families who are grieving the loss of their child. They knew how important it was to have the lion representing Barrett and so the idea for Bear Hugs From Barrett began. Family and friends have provided the means for teddy bears to be donated to the Perinatal Bereavement program at Henry Ford Allegiance Health where Barrett’s parents work. The bears are given to families who have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal loss. If a still birth or neonatal loss has occurred, parents are encouraged to take pictures as a family with the bear during the short time they have with their child. The bears are also shared with siblings, which is helpful for parents to start a conversation about the loss of a family member. 

 

Leaving the hospital without your baby is an experience very hard to discuss and put into words. Many parents describe a feeling of aching arms that long to hold their baby. Our hope with Bear Hugs From Barrett is to place a bear in the aching arms of families so they feel a tiny bit closer to their baby which they can not hold. 

 

Donations to Bear Hugs From Barrett are used the following ways; to purchase new bears, to make logo bandanas and create tags describing Bear Hugs From Barrett. Handprint molds are also purchased to be given to grieving families for a lasting memory of their child. Bear Hugs From Barrett is currently at Henry Ford Allegiance Health in Jackson, Michigan. With your kind donations we hope to keep the Bear Hugs From Barrett program going for many years. Thank you for helping to keep Barrett’s memory alive while helping other families through the difficult journey of pregnancy and infant loss.