Garden of the Sleeping Angels 2023 Annual Update
Our history as a nonprofit is based on stories. The realization of the Garden of the Sleeping Angels (GSA) came about because of one wee baby girl, Isabella, and I’m sharing her story with the permission of her parents, Sarah and Jim MacGillis.
Fifteen years ago, an expectant mother of twins presented to me as a patient, having ruptured her bag of waters prematurely at 19 weeks gestation (four weeks early for what is considered a viable birth). Labor ensued, and the first twin, named Isabella, came quickly and passed away shortly thereafter in her father’s arms. The attending physician made what was then considered an unprecedented decision to attempt to preserve the life of the remaining twin. The situation was such that he was able to prescribe medication to hold off labor and perform a procedure to prevent cervical dilation. Isabella’s twin brother grew inside his mother and delivered at full term! The story is bittersweet, but Isabella’s memory is significant in that she is the first baby remembered within the Garden of the Sleeping Angels.
Each family comes to the Gardens with their own unique circumstances, but Isabella’s story provided me with a singular awareness of being blessed with several emotions at once – extreme sadness of loss, but also gratitude and trust, particularly with God in His wisdom prompting me to open the serenity of our property to others. This unique ministry enables me to listen to stories and offer hope to families and friends dealing with the unfathomable sadness of losing a child. We offer peace, acceptance and freedom to feel their grief and begin healing.
EVENTS
Annual Plant Sale Fundraiser:
Partnering with Gertens Garden Center, we provided people the option of online plant purchases, with delivery and pickup at the Gardens, in addition to our sales of designed planters and perennials. It was a great success, and we look forward to offering this opportunity again in 2024!
Wave of Light:
This event had a huge turnout, with families joining us at dusk to light candles for over 250 babies memorialized throughout our 16 gardens. Visitors wandered, honoring their beloved babies, making new connections and enjoying the background harp music. We were able to provide a lasting memory for families through our videos of each garden as we said aloud the names of the babies.
Heavenly Birthday Celebrations:
Several families chose to remember their baby’s or child’s birthday by celebrating within the Gardens. Winter? The cold and snow don’t seem to dampen the desire to gather, light candles on cupcakes and sing. Making angels in the snow takes on a beautiful meaning here!
Tours:
We hosted a large group from the MN Milk Bank for Babies, a nonprofit whose mission is to improve infant health outcomes through processing donor human milk for distribution to medically fragile infants. We also had the privilege of touring several small groups – some following loss, and others with an interest in our mission – but all obviously touched by the visual examples of our commitment. A highlight for me personally was an invitation to speak to a large group of junior nursing students at the University of Minnesota, during which I shared my experience with caring for loss in a hospital setting, and the creation of the GSA.
Since we achieved our nonprofit status in 2012, we have honored close to 300 babies and children, hosted innumerable events and connected with countless people. As a 501c nonprofit, we rely on giving of time and donations to continue to provide a meaningful experience. Our responsibilities relative to garden and yard maintenance, communication (both interactive and postal) administration, outreach and technology are significant – so we greatly appreciate your support.
We are thankful to have you in our community and look forward to continuing our mission in 2024. Please visit and enjoy our lighting display and visit the Gardens in their peaceful, wintry radiance.
With blessings and gratitude,
Nancy and Tom Sawyer
DONATIONS TO THE GARDEN OF THE SLEEPING ANGELS MAY BE SENT TO THE ADDRESS BELOW, THROUGH PAYPAL OR THROUGH OUR WEB PAGE.
www.gardenofthesleepingangels.com
3405 County Road 6, Orono, MN 55356
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