Families going through the devastating experience of losing an infant at Windsor Regional Hospital will be given a little more time to grieve with their baby thanks to a recent donation from a Windsor couple.
Caitlin Collins David and her husband Adam David raised the money to purchase a CuddleCot after their daughter Grace was stillborn at 24 weeks old.
The couple was only given a short time to say goodbye to their daughter and introduce her to family members.
“Even having family come visit, we were basically on a time limit. The hospital allows you to spend as much time as you need but you are racing against time with the baby,” said Collins. “We missed out on having some of the family members meet her.”
Provided by Windsor Regional Hospital.
The CuddleCot is a type of refrigerated baby bed that helps preserve the body of a deceased newborn for days.
“The CuddleCot slows the baby’s body deteriorating by regulating their temperature,” said Manager of the NICU Deborah Mayea-Parent. “This will allow parents to spend precious valuable time to say both “hello” and “goodbye” to their babies. Sadly we cannot change the fact that babies pass away, however, we can definitely make a difference in the experience we provide the family during their grieving process.”
The CuddleCot can be used for stillborns, some late-term miscarriages, deaths in the NICU and even in some sudden infant death syndrome cases.
The $6,000 needed to purchase the CuddleCot was raised through donations after a Facebook group called "Grace's Footprints" was set up by Collins.
The CuddleCot is now available to families at Windsor Regional Hospital.
In 2019, there were 16 stillbirths at Windsor Regional Hospital.
