A few weeks ago I had the privilege of meeting a truly remarkable person. A woman so warm-hearted that you want to embrace her the moment you cross the threshold. A woman who built something extraordinary from her own grief. Birgit Rutz, founder of Hope's Angel Foundation.
Hope's Angel
Birgit Rutz founded Hope's Angel Foundation in 2015. It is an association that accompanies parents through the early loss of a child. The association grew directly from Birgit's own story. In 2008 she was living in Southern California, and in March of that year she lost one of her children for the third time. She felt it was a girl, and she named her Hope, because hope was precisely what she and her family needed to find their way through that dark time. She felt a deep longing to say farewell to her daughter in a way that was genuine and full of dignity.
A Special Place
Through a dear friend, Birgit learnt of a remarkable organisation called the Garden of Innocence. Its members ensure that babies who die are cared for and buried with dignity. The burial ground sits on a hillside, and a community of volunteers takes on the many tasks involved in giving each child a worthy farewell.
She Wanted to Become Part of This Group
For Birgit, it was clear: this was where she needed to be. Within nine months she had become vice-president of the organisation, taking on the greater part of every task that arose. The work helped her to heal. In the summer of 2010 she returned to Germany, as Birgit, like me, is married to a soldier. The many postings our husbands received brought us into contact with wonderful people, and I too found my calling through a posting abroad.
Back in Germany
After further blows of fate and years of further training, Birgit founded Hope's Angel in 2015. In September of the same year I visited her at the association's premises in Sankt Augustin. The rooms radiate warmth and security, and every member of staff greets you with an open heart. I was able to present Birgit and her team with our jewellery pieces focused on star children, and Birgit gave me an insight into the breadth of the association's work. In the Cologne, Bonn and Rhein-Sieg area Hope's Angel is an essential point of contact for bereaved parents, and Birgit's network extends well beyond that region. It was through her that I first heard of Nico Sobotta of Trauerhaus Sobotta, which values its collaboration with Birgit deeply.
What Hope's Angel Offers
Hope's Angel provides a wide range of support: acute accompaniment in hospital at the moment of loss, counselling sessions, and ongoing grief support for bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents. The association also guides families through a subsequent pregnancy with a course that meets every four weeks, and helps connect them with the right clinics for the birth. Regular gatherings for parents after the birth of a subsequent child are offered as well.
The First-Aid Package
Hope's Angel offers a lovingly assembled first-aid package that bereaved parents can request at no charge. It contains:
- Clothing for your star child
- A keepsake box for 3D impressions, available from the 20th week of pregnancy onwards
- A memory box
- A voucher for the book Trauernde Eltern by Nathalie Himmelrich
After the package is requested, the association reaches out personally to offer support for the next steps.
Placing Parents at the Centre
To ensure that bereaved parents receive the right information at the right moment, Birgit has built an extensive network. She works with midwives and hospitals, which can also order information materials from her to place directly in the hands of families when they need it most. The network includes photographers who specialise in photographing star children, and who come quickly and at no cost to the family. The association also runs a comprehensive continuing-education programme for midwives, funeral directors, and all others who work with families who have lost a child.
A Room Full of Colourful Butterflies
There is so much this association does that I cannot capture it all here. I can only encourage you to visit the Hope's Angel website, and I would especially urge our partner funeral directors to consider booking one of Birgit's training sessions or reading one of her books. She also offers beautiful small boats for the burial of children who leave this world too soon.
But there is one thing I must share before I close. The association has a very special group room. When you step inside, you feel the atmosphere immediately, something carried by the hundreds of colourful butterflies covering the walls. Each butterfly represents a child the team of Hope's Angel has accompanied. That room is quietly magical, and I am grateful, truly grateful, to have been given a glimpse into the work done within it.
Thank you for existing.
How You Can Support
The association is glad of any donation. Every contribution helps to ensure that bereaved parents continue to receive the care and accompaniment they need. You can find details on the Hope's Angel website.
