Mother honors stillborn son by bringing comfort to grieving families

MARSHALL, Mich. (InvestigateTV) — Sabrina and Brenden Miller walked through the doors of Oak Lawn Hospital with 17 bags full of comfort items, a delivery they make each year on their son’s birthday.

Nurses in the birth center received the bags, which will eventually go to mothers of stillborn children.

“I always hope that they just like sit in the room and get dusty and take up space, but knowing that that’s not what’s going to happen, and that someone’s going to find comfort in them, it’s bittersweet,” Sabrina Miller said.

They’re called Beau’s Bags, named after the Millers’ son Beau Anthony, who was stillborn five years ago.

“My two best friends brought care packages to the hospital for us, which is where Beau’s Bags came from,” Sabrina Miller said.

The Millers assemble the bags at a children’s table in their home. Each bag contains socks, lotion, a notebook, a water bottle and other self-care items.

“Writing letters to Beau helped a lot,” she said.

Jill Hays, a nurse at Oak Lawn Birth Center, said the bags provide something tangible for grieving mothers.

“By having something that’s prepared by a mother that’s gone through the same process or journey, they will have something to hold onto,” Hays said.

Miller said she blamed herself after Beau’s death.

“I blamed myself and my own body, and like if my body couldn’t take care of him, then I’m not taking care of my body, so I always try to do a fun water bottle and a reminder to drink your water, like it’s not your fault, take care of yourself,” she said.

Brenden Miller, Beau’s father, said the bags help keep their son’s memory alive.

“You find yourself not thinking about him and then you feel bad for not thinking about him, so every chance that we can get to spread his name out there a little bit more, it’s like he’s still here,” he said.

The Millers have four other children. Beau remains part of their family count.

“He’s still in our count of kids, and we still celebrate him every year,” Sabrina Miller said.

Each year on or around Beau’s birthday, May 4th, family and friends release balloons with birthday wishes. The annual hospital visit with Beau’s Bags has become an early May tradition as well.

“He is 5 today,” Sabrina Miller said on this year’s delivery day. “I love walking in and they all know me and make me feel at home.”

Miller said she hopes Beau’s Bags help other mothers feel comfortable talking about their babies.

“The bags and these things are in memory of him, I think has helped other moms feel more comfortable in talking about their babies, and I hope that keeps going for years and years,” she said.