Heath Baskets

What are “Heath Baskets”? In short, they are care baskets that a friend of mine donates each year to the hospital where Heath was born. But, you need to know all the details on how this basket started and how we/Penelope is connected to it.

Almost immediately after Penelope gained her wings I knew that her and I needed to donate our precious milk to babies in need. After getting information of a milk bank in Indiana & reaching out without getting a response I mentioned to one of my best friends who is a NICU nurse to see if she could find out where they get their milk for their preemies. She then told me about a wonderful momma named Heather & her husband, Mitchell, who had lost her son, Heath, almost 3 years ago on June 17th 2017. They had tried to have another child but unfortunately it wasn’t happening the way they had hoped and prayed (please follow her blog to see their journey). After ending up in the ER for a second time they decide to give adoption a try. Well, not even a month later and they received a phone call about a micro-preemie baby boy who was born on 1/7/2020 weighing just over 2lbs. When they heard the birth-date “1/7” they knew that this little baby was hand-picked for them by Heath & God. Hadden would have been due around Penelope’s due date & just got out of the NICU the week before I had her.

Heather reached out to me after my friend gave her my information & I thank God each day for bringing her and her beautiful family into my life. Heather, also having gone through the unimaginable grief of losing her baby led me to get through the most trying moments in the days/weeks/months after Penelope passed. She was there for me in a way no one else was able to be. I feel like I owe her so much (plus wine LOL) because she not only helped to console me during my saddest days but she also allowed Penelope and I to give her son Hadden nourishment from our milk. Heather will never know the amount of love I have for her & her family. God put her in my path for a reason.

I pray for Penelope’s PATH to be able to help fund a portion of “Heath Baskets” yearly for many many year to come. We both believe our angels are playing together in heaven.

What is included in Heath Boxes?

  • “Grieving the Child I Never Knew” Journal by Kathe Wunnenberg & pen

  • “Wherever You Are My Love Will Find You” by Nancy Tillman

  • “It’s Okay that You’re Not Okay” by Megan Devine

  • Mommy of an Angel bracelet

  • “From Father to Father: Letters from Loss Dad to Loss Dad” by Emily Long

  • “From Mother to Mother: On the Loss of a Child” by Emily Long

  • Angel keychains for mom & dad

  • Lavender pillow spray, Hot/Cold eye masks, Earth Mama No Milk Tea, Bath Salts/Bombs

  • Coffee Mug, Stuffed animal, Doterra Serenity Bath Bar

  • Gift Card for Restaurants & sometimes jewelry donations (beads for bracelets)

  • Boxes for keep sakes, condolence cards & casting kits

Pictured Above are Mitchell, Heather & Hadden Donating their Heath Baskets to Memorial Hospital!

You can check out Heathers Blog @ www.hikingafterheath.com ; She is absolutely amazing!