Category: Uncategorized

The Hat That Started It All

Published on by Project Robby

Robby was born at 1 pound 4.4 ounces and 12 inches long. He was early and tiny, but he was perfect. When you go into premature labor, you aren’t prepared. We weren’t prepared. We didn’t have a camera, and we didn’t have a special hat or blanket for him.

 

Our kind nurse searched high and low for a hat at the hospital that would be small enough to fit his tiny head. Though there weren’t any tiny enough, she came back with a very precious small blue hat with a pom pom on the top.

 

The hat that Robby wore was so special to me. Yes it was too big, but it was special because he wore it. Even after I no longer had Robby to hold onto, I had his hat. It brought me comfort on countless occasions when I needed to feel close him. I slept with it, I carried it around in my hoodie pocket when I was at home, and when I left I put it into my purse and took it along. I didn’t have my baby, but I had that small piece of him.

 

As time went on that hat stayed at home when I left, and stayed under my pillow when I got up. Eventually it got put away in Robby’s memory box. As my grief journey progressed I stopped relying on the comfort of that hat; however, that does not mean that it means any less to me.

 

I don’t know the woman who so lovingly made this hat for me. She won’t ever know how much that little blue hat means to me, and what it represents.

 

It isn’t just a hat. It represents Robby’s life. It was a short life, but he mattered, he was loved, and he was here. That hat is a physical reminder of his existence.

 

That little blue hat with a pom pom on the top is what started Project Robby. It helped me get through some of the absolute hardest days of my life.

 

This is why it is our mission at Project Robby to make sure that every parent not only has something special to hold onto, but that the hat and blanket is the correct size for their baby.

 

All babies are special no matter how tiny, premature, or short their life here on Earth.

The Pattern Guidelines For Project Robby Donations

Published on by Project Robby

Our town has a wonderful little post office with the kindest and most helpful people! The other day I was talking with the ladies at the post office and they were commenting on the amount of boxes that have been coming in from our fantastic volunteers. While we were talking, one of the ladies asked me:

“ Is everything you receive the same pattern?”

We get this question often from people who are new to our group and wanting to crochet for us. So many people want to know what our pattern guidelines are for our Keepsake Sets and our Bereavement Sets.

Well, I told our post office ladies what I tell our amazing volunteers when they ask which is this:

We do not require any specific patterns for our blankets, our hats, or even our angel wings. At times, we ask for certain colors and sizes, but patterns are up to the individual who is making the items.

Her response was:

“ They are all special, just like the babies they are going to.”

I couldn’t have phrased it any better! With all of our Keepsake Sets and Bereavement Sets we send out an angel wing, a hat, and a blanket. That is as “set” as it is here at Project Robby.

Everything we send out is beautiful and special in its own way.

If you work at a hospital that would be interested in receiving Project Robby Bereavement Sets, contact us here.

If you have lost a baby, no matter the gestation- no matter how long ago, and would like to receive a Project Robby Keepsake Set, you can fill out our request form here.