The Parker Project

On March 14th, 2022, our son Parker was born stillborn. A decision we made that day following his birth has led to this project and its purpose. That decision was to leave Parker at the hospital without his blanket. To many, this won't hit the same way it does to a loss parent, but we had to choose to either leave him without his blanket or give up the one physical thing that connected us so much to him. We decided to take the single blanket with us because that was the one thing I had that physically represented our pregnancy and time together and it has since helped aid in our healing process. We often look back in regret over this decision because we wish we had sent Parker on a journey with his own blanket.

Our goal with this project is to supply the hospital with sets of two matching blankets for parents who end up having to follow us in this awful journey of grief and loss. Both blankets will be given to the parents at the hospital for their time with their baby. Then when the time to separate comes, one blanket will go with the family to take home, and one will stay with the baby on their journey. We hope that by having this option for parents of loss, we will create a physical bond between the parents and their baby beyond that hospital time.

The Parker Project is the start of something that has begun in our healing around our boy. We wanted to bring this option to hospitals due to our experience that didn't give us this option for connection beyond with our Parker. We were so lucky to have a fairly good experience in the hospital and felt quite supported but we do think this project can help aid in that experience for parents of loss moving forward.

At this time, we are going to be supplying SHC in Calgary with the paired blankets but are hoping to expand within Calgary as the project gains motion.