Wichita Nonprofit Highlight :: Bridget’s Cradles

THE STORY

Matt and Ashley Opliger of Wichita were overjoyed to learn they were expecting a baby girl, a daughter whom they would name Bridget Faith. Several short months later, their dreams of her would be crushed. Ashley was hospitalized due to complications. Doctors warned them that preterm labor and stillbirth were likely outcomes.  

Heartbroken, Ashley’s mom decided to knit a special blanket in case that Bridget was born early. While knitting, she wondered what size Bridget would be if she came in the next few weeks. She knew that Bridget would be small, so she began to knit a small blanket. However, she started thinking that it would be difficult to wrap such a small blanket around a tiny baby. It was at this moment she felt God speaking to her and knew she was supposed to knit the sides together to create a cradle. Grammy was hoping they would never have to use this small cradle, but she packed it in her emergency hospital bag just in case.

A week later, on October 22, 2014, at 10:27 am, Bridget Faith Opliger was born into Heaven.

The nurses swaddled her in a regular hospital blanket, but weighing only 13 ounces, it was difficult to see and hold her, yet Bridget was too fragile and delicate to hold without a blanket. Grammy lovingly bundled her sweet granddaughter into the cradle that she had knit with love, and it was the perfect size.

The cradle made it possible for both Matt and Ashleys families to hold her, love, and bond with her. The cradle was also used for taking pictures of her. Bridget was buried in her cradle on October 27, 2014.

THE BEGINNING OF A NON-PROFIT

“Other than my faith in God and the hope I have to see Bridget again in Heaven, the most important part of my healing journey after her loss has been to help other bereaved moms,” Ashley said. And so Bridget’s Cradles was founded.

Bridget’s Cradles provides hand-made knit and crocheted cradles to hospitals in all 50 states to offer to families whose babies are born into Heaven. The organization has donated cradles to over 625 hospitals in all 50 states, serving thousands of bereaved families nationwide.

Cradles are made by their nationwide team of knitting and crocheting volunteers and finished by sewing volunteers in Wichita. Bridget’s Cradles inspects each cradle for quality and tags them before they are shipped directly to hospitals. The cradles are always provided to hospitals and families at no charge.

MINISTRY FOR LOCAL MOMS

With the growing reach of the organization nationwide, they established a headquarters north of Wichita in Kechi. Here, they fulfill their operations. This space has also opened the door to start a new ministry to serve local bereaved moms. HOPE Gatherings are Christ-centered monthly gatherings hosted by the leaders of Bridget’s Cradles that provide support, hope, and healing to bereaved mothers in the Wichita area.

Ashley said “We want to give grieving moms the opportunity to get connected to other moms who are experiencing the same grief, so they can make friendships and build a strong support system. Most importantly, we want to guide these moms to hope and healing. If youre a mom in the Wichita area grieving the loss of your baby, we would be honored to meet you and have you join us at our next Hope Gathering.

CRAFT NIGHTS & ANNUAL CANDLELIGHT VIGIL

Bridgets Cradles also holds quarterly “Create and Remember” craft nights with the mission of creating memorial items to remember and honor their babies in Heaven alongside other bereaved mothers. So far theyve made string art boards and shadow boxes. They will be painting memorial rocks at the next craft night on June 12. Visit their website  for more information on craft nights.

Bridget’s Cradles also hosts an annual candlelight vigil, the Wichita Wave of Light. This is an event for bereaved families on October 15th each year, Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. More details will be posted about this event on their website closer to October.

HOW TO HELP BRIDGET’S CRADLES

For anyone who would love to help this mission, heres how you can help:

  • Attend a monthly volunteer work night (sewers and non-sewers alike needed) at their headquarters in Kechi, KS
  • Become a home sewing volunteer (sew the finishing touches onto the cradles from the comfort of your home)
  • Become a home helper volunteer (complete non-sewing projects for the organization from home)
  • Be an administrative volunteer (from home or at their headquarters; projects vary based on your skill set and the needs of the organization)
  • Give a financial gift, donate supplies, or a lead a fundraiser on their behalf
  • Visit their website for volunteer opportunities or to make a donation. 

 


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Nicole Nickel
Hi, I’m Nicole! I’m a mommy to two young kids: Scarlet and Easton, and wife to Justin. We also have 2 furbaby Labs. I am an Oklahoma girl, born and raised. I’ve been here in Wichita since October 2016. Moving from my home of Norman has been tough, but what a great community to relocate! We love to get out explore the area, finding fun family activities! In addition to mom and wife, I am speech-language pathologist. Some of my favorite things-being an OK girl, I am a die-hard OU football fan (Boomer!), being outdoors, traveling, friends and family, wine and coffee!

6 COMMENTS

  1. Bridget’s Cradles is an amazing organization that works to support the dignity of the human person in some of the tiniest humans. I have been blessed to crochet Cradles for families who have suffers deep loss.

    • Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment. It certainly is amazing what they do.

  2. Thank you for your sensitivity in writing about Bridget’s Cradles in such a thoughtful, thorough way. It’s an outreach that touches my heart as they reach out lovingly to parents at such a vulnerable and heartbreaking time.

    • Thank you Carol for your kind feedback! I’m am in awe constantly of Ashley and how God has called her and other volunteers to provide some light for these families.

  3. THIS IS THE BEST PLACE TO VOLUNTEER.
    ALWAYS FEEL PART OF THE TEAM, EVEN THOUGH I LIVE HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY.
    THEIR COMPASSION AND LOVE PERMEATES all they do.

    • Bless you for being a volunteer! This certainly is an incredible mission that reaches so many across the nation.

Comments are closed.