[MaryGlynn]

How Heavenly Angels in Need was started ?

Mary and Brian Glynn are proud parents of four healthy children, but they have seen their fair share of the insides of hospitals NICU's (Neonatal Intensive Care Units). In 1990, before she met Brian, 17 year old Mary gave birth to Justen, several weeks premature, with many complications. (Justen gets his name because he was born ‘just in time’.)
In 1992 Mary met Brian and quickly they were engaged. Mary and Brian were ecstatic about their upcoming marriage, but soon after the discovery of Mary’s pregnancy they realized that they were in for a rough ride. At just 8 weeks gestation Mary had a miscarriage. After this Mary and Brian prayed and tried for five years to get pregnant with no success. Finally, their prayers were answered and in1998 Mary conceived Julionna. Just three months after the birth of Julionna, Mary conceived again, but within weeks of the pregnancy Mary began to have complications. At just 26 weeks gestation Mary went into labor and gave birth to 2 pound 10 ounce Gabriel. During the two months following Gabriel’s birth he was required to remain in the NICU, so Mary drove to the hospital every two hours to nurse her newborn son.

In April of 2000 Mary found out that she was pregnant again, and in July, Mariah Belle was born at around 21 weeks gestation weighing only 10 ounces. She was too early to save and died just an hour and a half after her birth. Mariah’s death is what inspired Mary to reach out to other parents who have experienced such loss. Paul, their sixth conceived child was born healthy and with no complications in 2001.

Mary and Brian Glynn have had their fair share of heartache, but as we know God’s plans for our lives are not always what we would expect. Mary had no idea at the time of baby Mariah’s passing God was going to use her loss to help others in similar situations.

In the two years following the loss of baby Mariah, Mary says God was assuring her that her daughter did not die in vain. In 2002 Mary began to knit hats for babies for the NICU Gabriel was saved in and shortly after Heavenly Angels In Need was born. Heavenly Angels In Need eventually morphed into a non profit charity organization that donates items to families who have children who have passed on and for those who are clinging to life. As Mary knitted hats she realized there was a much greater need. Other items such as caskets, blankets, memory boxes, baby care items, and burial garments. were desperately needed, and so in April, 2003 Mary began a group website. By June of the same year the need was so obvious that Mary turned the group website into a public one. In 2004 the memory box division, casket division and children’s division were created to get more items to those who needed them.

As the ministry expanded regions were born, allowing Heavenly Angels In Need reach people in all parts of the country, and in a couple of other countries too. Regions are divisions of Heavenly Angels In Need set up in cities all over the United States to deliver, and make items to deliver to their local hospitals. The regions work in conjunction with the different divisions in order to get what’s needed the most out there. The memory box division unfortunately is the biggest part of Heavenly Angels In Need because it is their most requested item. Memory boxes are given to families who have has a loss of a baby to keep their prized memorial items in. Memory boxes are generally hand made and donated to Heavenly Angels In Need and then distributed to the hospitals or the individuals who request them.
The casket division was inspired after Brian Glynn had to build baby Mariah’s casket because of the family’s inability to purchase one. Like the memory box division caskets are handmade and donated to Heavenly Angels In Need by caring individuals, and then distributed.

Heavenly Angels In Need also accepts the donation of new or used wedding, prom, and brides maid dresses to make burial garments for families who cannot afford them. For many who have lost a child or an infant, this is an irreplaceable gift. Heavenly Angels In Need realizes there is a need for items for babies who are born to impoverished individuals, as well. This is why they accept items such as baby wipes, diapers, clothes, blankets, formula, and other much needed baby care items. These are distributed to the local hospitals and social services to help families who cannot afford to provide these necessities for their baby, or to families in emergency situations.

The children’s division was started because abuse the founder witnessed her mother going through as a young child. Mary’s mother escaped the abuse with 4 kids and nothing but the clothes on their backs. So the need was very real and their way of giving back.. Mary says “my mom is my true hero”!

The children’s division of Heavenly Angels In Need donates items to children in emergency situations, and to children residing in the care of Social Services. They put together ‘Special Kids Bags’ using a pillow case as the bag and filling it with specific items pertaining to the child’s situation. This past year Heavenly Angels In Need sent some Special Kids Bags to Texas to help the children affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Donations of materials are also needed to make caskets, memory boxes, burial garments, and Special Kids Bags. Heavenly Angels In Need knows some people may wish to help, but not have the ability to make things to give, so they ask instead for monetary gifts or materials. This ministry is growing every day, and with every new place touched there are more desperately needed items. Mary and Brian Glynn have let God use their own family tragedy to help others who have found infant death to be a very real and unfortunate event. Mary says “Someone has to let these parents know that they are not alone… We feel that parents and children need to have something to let them know that they are loved and cared about.”

(Article Written by Lifted Magazine UPDATED BY HAIN)

Video of Gabriel in the NICU (this video was made when HAIN first started, it has not been updated or edited since so it may not be accurate "addresses etc..)



Video in memory of Mariah





Mariah Belle's Poem (written by her mom)