Retired Ont. palliative nurse sews upcycled gowns for infant loss

Retired palliative care nurse Debora Sharp turns donated wedding dresses into tiny gowns for families grieving infant loss.

A retired healthcare worker based out of Spanish, Ont., west of Sudbury, now spends her time to create gowns for families who experience the loss of a baby.

Debora Sharp spent 30 years as a nurse in palliative care.

“It’s such an honor to be with somebody as they leave this world,” she told CTV News.

“I look at it like when a child is born, the energy and the atmosphere is so warm and loving… When you are older and you leave this world – it’s actually the same thing, only reversed.”

Sharp now takes wedding dresses that are donated and turns them into gowns for infants lost too soon.

She said it all started when a friend invited her over and they stumbled upon her daughters dress.

“I was over at Jen’s house and she goes, ‘I really wish I could make gowns or something with this dress.’ So I told them, ‘Give it to me and I’ll see what i can do,’” Sharp said.

The retiree was able to turn that one dress into five gowns.

She shared her success on social media and mentioned she was looking for donation and received 20 wedding dress with more on the way.

“I hope they feel some closure in their heart and try to think of good memories when they see it,” Sharp said.

“… Happiness, even though if it was only for an hour that they help that child.”

She’s been in contact with nearby hospitals and hopes to make donations soon.

“I’m also hoping that others will see this and (it will) continue on, not only just for the hospital in the city, but think of all of the out of reach places like way up north where there’s nothing really,” Sharpe said.

She told CTV News that she hopes to be able to send them to remote communities herself.

At almost 70 years old Sharp said she will continue making gowns as long as her body will allow her and she hopes that people will continue to donate their wedding dresses to the cause.

For hospital interested in donations or those wishing to donate a dress you can, Sharpe said you can reach her on Facebook.