"Ava's Angel Bears"
Annette made a request on Ava's webpage Our Angel Ava, and I offered to help her spread the word to more people. She's organizing a project to help other grieving parents, and to keep Ava's memory alive. She's so brave and generous in wanting to help other grieving parents when her own grief is still so raw, and I desperately want to help her out. I'm going to copy & paste what she wrote on Ava's memorial page, here's what she wrote:
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<< I would like to ask for your help in remembering and honoring our beautiful daughter Ava. I have learned and grown so much from this experience and want to pass on a little bit of strength and happiness to those who need it the most.
While I was in the hospital my Fiancé Andrew gave me a stuffed dog. He thought looking at it would make me smile. What he didn’t know at the time was that holding and cuddling it would also help fill my empty arms and sooth my broken heart.
I would like to ask you to donate a stuffed animal or teddy bear that I can take to the local hospital for other families who have gone through the same experience as we have. I have learned that it is the littlest things in life that have the biggest impact. I will attach a note to the parents that include’s a poem, a Parental Support website that I have found very helpful, and “In Memory Of Ava Carmella and all our Angel Babies”.
I want to Thank You in advance, not only for your help with this project, but for your love and support to Andrew and I during our time of grief. Ava’s memory will live on through this project and the many others that will soon follow. I can only hope that this will touch other people and help them when they need it the most.
If you would like to contribute please contact me at
(I'm not posting Annette's contact info online. If you'd like to help out, and don't already have Annette's e-mail address, please leave a comment and I'll help get you in touch with Annette.)
I would like to bring the first batch of bears to the hospital by June 23rd, which will be three months since Ava’s birth. I am hoping to do this at least once or twice a year.
Thank you for your support, Annette >>