IU Health Bloomington donation honors a daughter’s memory by supporting other families

On Tuesday, Sept. 15, Melissa Nam honored the 10^th anniversary of the passing of her daughter, Evelyn Nam, by donating ten memory boxes for bereaving parents and a cart of books for Bloomington Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) families. The gift was accepted by Samantha Sweatman, RN, who supported Nam ten years ago through her daughter’s passing.

Evelyn was born at Bloomington’s legacy hospital on August 15, 2016. Following an emergency delivery at 25 weeks’ gestation, she passed away after being transported to Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.

“Samantha was so in tune to what we needed and what we didn’t,” said Melissa. “And it just got us thinking, what could we do to honor both the people that do what they do for families like ours, as well as our own child. Because a parents fear no matter how old your kid is, is that your kid is going to be forgotten, because they’re not here with you.”

She and her husband chose to honor their daughter’s memory through a series of donations over the past 10 years. These have included fundraisers for Riley Children’s Health’s bereavement program, blanket drives, book carts and memory boxes at several IU Health locations.

The books and items included in each memory box are thoughtfully selected to reflect a variety of cultures, religions and ethnicities to help families feel seen and supported in their grief. Over the years, Melissa has expanded the contents to include items that she and her husband found meaningful as they navigated their own journey of remembering their daughter.

The most recent boxes include a stuffed animal, a journal and pen, a picture frame, their favorite children’s book titled “Wherever you go, our love will find you,” a candle to light on birthdays and days of significance, as well as tea, tissues and grippy socks to cater to postpartum mothers.

“It’s very alienating to go through something like this,” said Melissa. “So, I think just having something given to you by someone who put it together with you in mind, who can understand and empathize—hopefully that’s helpful to them and we can help offer some comfort.”