Monthly Outreach Spotlight
Viviana’s Memory Boxes
We will be collecting items for Viviana’s Memory Boxes during the month of May.
Carrie Acosta, a member of our IOA Longwood Family lost her precious daughter Viviana Iris Acosta in November 2008 and her son Benjamin ‘Kaleb’ Acosta in April 2010. Viviana was stillborn at 27 weeks gestational. During the few hours that Carrie got to spend with Viviana she took pictures of the family together; talked to her, and prayed over her. But as she said goodbye, she realized that this was all she would ever have of her- those few hours together. There were so many things Carrie wished she would have had with her in the hospital when she lost Viviana, and items she wish she had to help her remember Viviana after they left the hospital.
Because so many of these losses happen so suddenly and unexpectedly parents-to-be are usually not prepared. Many have rushed to the hospital without bags packed for themselves or items for the baby. For this reason Carrie has decided to start the Viviana’s Memory Boxes Project. This project provides “memory boxes” to local hospitals for families that have lost an infant at stillbirth, miscarriage, or pre-term labor. These memory boxes will provide comfort to the families and ever-lasting memories of their lost, but precious baby.
Since the project began in February 2009 they have delivered over 800 memory boxes to 11 local hospitals. With the continued generosity of IOA employees, Viviana’s Memory Boxes was able to pick up 4 additional hospitals this past year to deliver boxes to. The demand for the boxes is much higher than what they have been able to provide and that is why Carrie is asking for our help.
