Spotlight on Regali Jewelry Memorial Fingerprint Charms
Losing a child has to be the most painful event of a parent’s life. Those caregivers who guide families through this horrific time have a whole host of bereavement items at their disposal. One of the newest, most unique items that they can offer is memorial fingerprint charms from Regali Jewelry. Hospitals love that they can give these to their families: “We have received numerous responses from families about how much these charms mean to them.”
A child’s finger, toe, or in the case of very premature babies, foot or hand, is pressed into silver clay. Once the clay dries, it’s fired and polished and personalized with initials. An accent crystal is added and the charm is boxed and finished with a bow.
Regali was started by Anne Moriarty as a direct sales company, making fingerprint charm necklaces and bracelets sold at home parties. Then a large children’s hospital inquired about memorial fingerprint charms, with the aim of offering charms to the families of all children who die at their hospital. The memorial fingerprint charm program was born.
Today Regali works in partnership with nearly 100 hospitals and hospices across the US and Canada, creating one-of-a-kind charms. They’re made in NICUs, PICUs, hem/onc, trauma, and in palliative care, for children who have lost parents. Anne makes a mold of each charm, so families can order additional charms at a later date.
Regali’s memorial charms have helped families through the grieving process. One mom wrote, “My little footprints are such a gift to me. I wear them each day and often hold them between my fingers when thinking about my sweet children.” The charms give family members a way to touch their loved one.
Regali provides partner organizations with a supply of imprint kits, so they’re prepared when they need one. They take the imprint (often with the help of family members) then send the kit to Anne. She makes the charms within a few days of receipt and sends them back to the hospital or directly to the family. As supplies are used, she replenishes the organizations. In the words of a Child Life Specialist at one partner hospital, “I cannot begin to tell you how valuable these charms are to parents and children who have a family member die.”
Anne offers interested organizations a free charm, so they can see the process from start to finish. Contact her on 703-473-0967 or Anne.Moriarty@RegaliJewelry.com to learn more about how you can offer these unique keepsakes to your patients’ families. Be sure to follow on Facebook and Twitter.
