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Teresa Golik lovingly knit a tiny cradle for her granddaughter, not knowing it would one day become a nationwide nonprofit. When Bridget was born into Heaven at 24 weeks, that cradle held her with love and dignity—and inspired a mission to comfort grieving families with the comfort of a cradle and the hope of Heaven.
A Cradle of Love Became a Ministry of Healing
From Heartbreak to Hope
Our Story
Matt and Ashley Opliger were overjoyed to be expecting their first child, a baby girl. Ashley had loved the name “Bridget Faith” since she was young, and the soon-to-be parents were eager to decorate her nursery and prepare for her arrival. But at just 13 weeks into the pregnancy, Ashley began experiencing complications and bleeding. She was diagnosed with a subchorionic hemorrhage and placed on bedrest and medical leave from her job as Speech-Language Pathologist.
in the summer of 2014,
The hemorrhage led to a placental abruption and restricted Bridget’s growth. Doctors warned of likely preterm labor or stillbirth. Matt and Ashley were devastated, but amid the shock and sorrow, they chose to celebrate Bridget’s life—hoping and praying for a miracle while also preparing their hearts for the worst. When they found out she was a girl, they hosted a gender reveal with pink balloons, confetti, and cake, choosing to cherish every moment they had with their precious daughter.
As the weeks progressed,
Ashley's bleeding worsened and she was hospitalized. Doctors were uncertain how much longer Ashley's body could maintain the pregnancy. Heartbroken, Ashley’s mom (Grammy) began knitting a small mint green blanket for her granddaughter. Realizing how difficult it would be to swaddle such a tiny baby in a small blanket, she had a "God moment" and knew she was supposed to knit the sides together to create a cradle. She sewed on lace and a cross, packed it in her hospital bag, and prayed we wouldn't need to use it.
A week before Bridget was born,
Bridget Faith Opliger was born into Heaven at 24 weeks and 5 days at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas. She never took a breath on this earth—her soul went straight into the arms of Jesus. Matt and Ashley, surrounded by their families, were in awe of how perfectly and wonderfully made she was by her Creator. The hospital nurses first swaddled Bridget in a standard blanket, but weighing only 13 ounces, she was too tiny to see or feel well, yet she was too fragile and delicate to hold without a blanket.
On october 22, 2014,
Grammy gently bundled her granddaughter into the cradle she had lovingly knit. It was the perfect size for Bridget and provided a respectful, dignified way to hold her and capture cherished photos. The cradle made it easier to love on her and bond during their brief time together. Matt and Ashley's family members visited the hospital and took turns holding her. Bridget was buried in her cradle on October 27, 2014, bringing her family peace knowing she was wrapped in love as she awaits resurrection at Jesus’ return.
After her birth,
"The cradle changed everything for us. It was an honoring, sacred, and functional way to hold our little girl. It made a heartbreaking situation more bearable, and it was a blessing and comfort to us in the midst of such a tragedy as losing our one and only child."
Matt and ashley shared,
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Matt and Ashley Opliger Share How a Ministry Was Born in Memory of Their Daughter
Watch Our Story
Bridget's Cradles becomes a 501c3 nonprofit
First donation of cradles made to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, KS
Bridget Faith Opliger is born into Heaven
Reaches 500 hospitals
Bridget's Cradles moves into Kechi Headquarters
Donates cradles to hospitals in all 50 states
Reaches 1,000 hospitals
Online support groups start
In-person support groups start
Cradled in Hope book is published
Reaches 1,500 hospitals
Cradled in Hope Podcast launches
A Timeline of Bridget's Cradles'
Journey and Impact
Milestones of Hope
Ashley, Bridget's Mommy
We will forever be grateful for the gift of Bridget's cradle. Apart from God's love, nothing was more comforting to us on the day of her birth than her cradle. As a mother, to hold my sweet girl, wrapped in such love, was something I will never forget. It gives me great peace to know that her cradle holds her earthly body now until we are reunited with her in Heaven.
"The cradle was perfect for bonding, photos, and for her burial. It made us all feel better knowing she was nestled in like in her mother's womb. She looked so angelic and precious. I will forever have the memories and good feeling that Grammy could knit her something that made her feel cherished by her family."
Teresa Golik, Bridget's Grammy
Before she was even pregnant, I knit a large mint green blanket for my daughter Ashley's first child. I made it mint green to match the color of Ashley's "blankie" that she had as a baby and child, which also matched her nursery. As Ashley experienced pregnancy complications with Bridget, my first grandchild, I knew she was going to arrive early and small. So I decided to knit a small blanket for her. We didn't know what the outcome would be – if Bridget would be stillborn or very small and in the NICU for months. Either way, I wanted her to have a special blanket.
After I knit such a small blanket, it seemed like it would be hard to use for her if it was just flat since I knew she would be fragile and small. I held it in my hands and turned it around and got the idea to sew the sides up so it resembled a cradle. I wanted her to be snuggled in and wrapped up safe and secure. I thought of Psalm 139 --"knit in your mother's womb"-- and wanted her to be tucked in the softness of a cradle made with love and prayers by her Grammy. It was very sad to have to use the cradle in the circumstances of her stillbirth but I felt better at the hospital knowing she had something to tuck her in so we could hold her.
The cradle brought comfort to Bridget’s family, and they wanted other grieving families to experience the same comfort. Grammy began knitting more cradles, and Ashley started the ministry. Their first donation was made to Wesley Medical Center, where Bridget was born.
Around that time, Ashley met Casey Siegrist, another bereaved mom whose son Jack is buried next to Bridget. Casey believed deeply in the mission and became a foundational part of the ministry.
Bridget’s Cradles became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in July 2015. Ashley left her career as a Speech Pathologist to lead the ministry full-time, and soon hospitals across the country began requesting cradles.
In 2016, Bridget’s Cradles was blessed to welcome Amanda Farris as a full-time volunteer. With her expertise and service, the organization expanded its hospital outreach and volunteer base, quickly outgrowing the Ashley's home.
In April 2018, the ministry moved into a dedicated headquarters in Kechi, Kansas, where it now hosts volunteer work nights and support groups for grieving moms.
As of July 2025, cradles have been donated to over 1,600 hospitals across all 50 states. The organization has grown to include three dedicated staff members and a team of passionate volunteers who carry out the ministry’s work.
