'Thoughful Thursday' Lisa's Stars

We continue 'Thoughtful Thursday' with another worthy cause Lisa’s Stars.

Lisa's Stars was set up in the Autumn of 2010 to make a difference to those who are unfortunate enough to lose a child prematurely. Their Founder is a lady who has sadly experienced this and felt something was massively missing from the aftercare of those babies and their parents. Lisa's Stars initially started out as a way to support her local hospital, and her aim was to supply them with tiny blankets, hats and angelwraps so that any baby born too early would be kept warm and wrapped in love. It is heartbreaking that in some ares of the UK these babies are wrapped in nothing but tissue,or left naked.

Within 3 days of starting the group on facebook, Lisa's Stars had a website, a forum to give support to families and nearly a thousand members, not to mention an army of ladies loving knitting and sewing a mountain of angel clothes. They came to realise that the support for her vision and the need for an organisation like hers extended far beyond the need for blankets and hats, and needed to reach more than just the local hospital.

The aim is to not only supply her local hospital with knitwear but to spread them to as many hospitals as they can. The dream is to create memory boxes for those babys and their families so they have their treasured babys keepsakes to keep for all time.

A baby is classed as prematüre if thay are born at less than 37 weeks gestation. 8% of births in the UK occur before 37 weeks and although NICU care has improved in the last 40years, any baby born at 24 weeks or less is sadly not seen as ‘viable’ and many do not survive, leaving some hospitals to struggle to provide clothes small enough. Every hospital is different in regards to their care for these babies and we must never forget that no baby should be left unclothed and must be shown respect no matter what gestation they are born at. While Lisa’s Stars provides items which are especially aimed to fit tiny babies born 16 to 24 weeks gestation, are happy to provide clothing for all angels no matter what gestational age they are born at.

Calling All Knitters!

This is where you can help Lisa’ Stars, not only to provide suitable clothing and blankets for these tiny sleeping angels but to also allow them to rest peacefully with the dignity they deserve and to also give their parents and families comfort in knowing their child is wrapped in love. By knitting some of the items in the list below:

Blankets

Hats

Booties

Cardigans

Angel Pockets

Burial Gowns

Buntings

Sleeping Sacks

Wraps You will find all patterns and sizing chart on the web site:http://www.lisasstars.org.uk

Measurements are used only as a guide as all babies are different and special.

Knitters are given free reign when it comes to what colour to use, but are asked to keep in mind that baies born upto 18 weeks it’s often difficult to determine what sex the babies are so its recommended that whites, creams or pastel yellows, lilacs and greens are used. Of course for babies born over 18 weeks pinks and blues are fine to use. All donations are gratefully received including knitted items / wool / ribbon / baby buttons / tiny teddies /disposable cameras and candles.

Please arrange delivery with your nearest Representative as this helps to keep postage costs to a minimum and as their representatives are there to make contact with their local hospitals and deliver items direct which enables them to provide a personal service.




You can find all the information on representatives and hospitals covered on the web site www.lsiasstars.org.uk or any enquiries to
Facebook page. http:// www.facebook.com/pages/lisas-stars/159738440713941

Donations

If you prefer to donate money which will go towards postage costs, purchasing of wool and other items, please use the donate button on the left hand menü on the web page.

All donations, however small or grandeur mean so much, as it allows the continuation of providing dignity to all babies, no matter how small as well as peace of mind to their parents through their most devastating time.

If you would prefer to send donations please send them to :

Lisa's Stars PO Box 653, Swansea. SA1 9LL. United Kingdom

Help if you can!