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Colorado woman creates burial gowns for babies

Posted at 6:37 AM, Dec 01, 2015
and last updated 2015-12-01 06:37:02-05

A Colorado grandmother is honoring young lives lost too soon.

Sandi Fasano, of Evergreen, brings infant burial gowns to hospitals, free of charge. She makes the angel gowns from recycled wedding dresses.

"The first time I cut into a wedding dress was a little difficult," said Fasano. "It was somebody's beautiful wedding dress that they brought me, and I was going to cut it to pieces."

It may sound like a morbid task, but turning wedding dresses into tiny gowns fills a need in the community -- a need no one talks about.

"The last thing a family needs to do is go to a toy store and find doll clothes," said Fasano. "There really isn't any other option but to provide these free of charge."

Fasano started Front Range Angel Gowns and word spread quickly on Facebook. Shortly after, wedding dress donations started pouring in from across the state. Oftentimes, the dresses come with personal stories.

"When she handed it to me, she said that she had lost identical twin boys, and she said the only request she had was if I could possibly save two pieces," said Fasano, talking about a bride's donation.

Some dresses are given in memory of lost children, while other are given out of the kindness of their hearts. It is Fasano's job to make the angel gowns perfect, right down to the last stitch.

"You can dress your child for the first and last time. And, you can honor that child. Because everything -- your hopes and your dreams were in that child," said Fasano.

It's an emotion she knows all too well. One of her own children recently suffered a loss. At the time, Fasano felt helpless, but now she is helping others mourn.

"To see the gratitude in her face...no words...no words," said Fasano. "Just a hug and a passing eye contact -- because neither one of us could really speak. It was very emotional and it cemented what I'm doing."

Front Range Angel Gowns is not a non-profit, though Fasano is working on getting that status finalized. The company does not accept cash donations. If you would like to donate materials or learn more about the cause, click here. 

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