Angel Babies is a 501(c)3 nonprofit charitable organization based in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Founded by Dr. Claire Lavan in May 2016, the organization was born from a heartbreaking loss. The Lavans lost their beautiful, precious baby girl the month before. Kyla Rose was born early at 25 gestational weeks and weighed only 1 pound. The family was given the opportunity to spend time with her before saying goodbye. But the hospital’s insensitivity regarding dressing the tiny baby girl was shocking and hurtful to the family. They were literally offered two small craft store felt square to swaddle their daughter. After viewing a photo taken of baby Kyla Rose held by her father wrapped in this piece of felt, Claire was further pained with the thought of how disrespectful it was to her daughter’s short, yet important life and how inhumane it was to her and her husband to see their baby that way while preparing to say goodbye.

Angel Babies’ goal is to support the minimalization of pain when parents face such a huge, unanticipated loss, aid in reducing the long term psychological scars associated with this painful experience and importantly, assure parents that they are not alone on this sad journey, but others have experienced it and are eager to show love and support. By having the perinatal loss care gift boxes available onsite, nurses, social workers, chaplains and grief counselors can immediately present it to the bereaved families to dress their babies. These gifts are offered to the families at no cost with no further obligations.