Cuddling Jonas with a CuddleCot
Donation protected
Please help us on our mission to get a Cuddle Cot into Cooper University Hospital. On July 10, our son, Jonas was born still of heart. A CuddleCot preserves an infants body so the family can spend precious time saying hello and goodbye. Your donation will fund a Cuddle Cot and support packages for families who hear those words "I'm sorry..."
July 9, 2015, started like any other day that week full of discomfort, full of boys and fully pregnant. I went to my final prenatal appointment excited that I was only 5 days away from my scheduled repeat 4x c section.
July 9, 2015 turned into the day time stopped. I sat atop the doctor's table, belly exposed getting measured and I was complaining to my doctor about all the pregnancy related issues I was having: pain, sleeplessness, discomfort, swelling, the list goes on. She assured me I was at the end and only had 5 more days. Then out came the Doppler. She tried one spot, moved to another, then another...
At this point, I'm aware of what's happening but my mind wouldn't let me process anything. I chose to stay completely still hoping and praying that would somehow make a difference. Time is frozen, I laid completely still, belly exposed searching my doctors face for anything. She sat down next to me and tried a new spot saying, "I've never had this much trouble finding this kid". I feel a little relieved. As I laid still I realized my baby's not moving; or is s/he? I'm having contractions or is that movement? What's that flutter down low? Surely it's my baby's arm.
Now, things changed and moved rapidly and an ultrasound machine was wheeled into the room. More gel went on my belly and my Dr. placed the wand and moved it slightly. I still refused to accept any reality other than the one in my heart. In my heart there's my baby flailing on the screen, a 4 chambered heart happily beating away, but my head... Oh my head, was starting to grasp reality and understand the gravity of what's not being said. I finally brought myself to turn my head, to look at the screen. I see the heart chamber I could recognize it anywhere, I see no movement.
My husband joined me at the hospital and we were forced to face reality together, that our son's heart stopped. There's so many questions, so many decisions to be made and what feels like no time. No one prepares you for the harsh reality that even with your 4th kid, in your 3rd trimester, you could lose your precious baby. We were not prepared for this and had no idea what would happen and that decisions would need to be made immediately. Everything seemed to happen so fast.
Jonas Patrick was born still of heart July 10, 2015.
The hospital encouraged us to take pictures and spend, as much time as we wanted with our Jonas. We cherish the time we spent with him, but the time we had was not enough. It will never be enough. Cooper University Hopsital does not have a Cuddle Cot. Of course, we did not know about Cuddle Cots at the time, but what a gift it would have been had they had one to offer us. We now hope to give the gift of time to another family who will hear those words no one wants to hear from their OB, "I'm so sorry there's no heartbeat."
We would like to put together "Cuddling with Jonas" support packages that we will donate to the hospital so they can give them out to grieving parents. There are so many resources and outlets available to families in our situation they we didn't know existed until after the fact. Items in these packages would include but aren't limited to: list of online resources, a gift certificate for the purchase of Molly or Alexa bears (to relieve the finiancial burden caused by such a life changing event and fill their empty arms), the website for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, a list of baby picture ideas (ie. hands, feet, picture with mom, with dad, etc.) a baby blanket and hat. There are some things that I regret not knowing or doing during this time and I wouln't want any other parent to live with these regrets.
Our hope is that these "Cuddling with Jonas" care packages will give grieving parents comfort, options and support they had not considered. Since time is such a gift during these events we would like to raise funds to offset the cost of these packages to be donated, along with the Cuddle Cot.
Unfortunately, stillbirths occur in 1 out of 160 pregnancies each year, so there will be more families who will need this precious "gift of time". A donation to this cause will allow us to purchase a Cuddle Cot for Cooper University Hospital, so that the parents that follow in our heartbroken footsteps will have more time with their babies.
What is a Cuddle Cot and why is it necessary? The Cuddle Cot cooling pad is placed in a moses basket; it is connected by a specially insulated hose and is quietly cooled using the Cuddle Cot cooling unit. In a warm hospital room the baby's condition can deteriorate quickly, therefore cooling the baby is absolutely essentail. The Cuddle Cot system is designed for premature and full term babies.
The use of a Cuddle Cot would have preserved Jonas's features and body and allowed us to spend more time with him before he began to change. Watching your baby's features deteriorate and change in front of your eyes while you're learning to say hello and goodbye is heartbreaking. Had a Cuddle Cot been available we would have had more time with him, the way we wanted to remember him. He was absolutely perfect, but because of the warm room his body began to change and we needed to say our final goodbyes. We do cherish the time we spent getting to know him, his ten little fingers, his ten little toes, his curly hair, but what we wouldn't give to have had more time with him.
Please help us make our dream a reality and give the gift of time to the parents who will follow in our heartbroken footsteps. We hope to honor Jonas's life and memory by donating a Cuddle Cot to Cooper University Hosptial in his name. We thank you all for your conitnued prayers, support and donations. Just sharing his life and being able to explain what a Cuddle Cot is has brought some meaning and purpose during our grieving. There's not a day that goes by that we don't think of Jonas.
We have raised the donation cap, as we were unaware of go fund me fees. We want to ensure we can cover the costs of the comfort packages. Thank you all for your countinued prayers & support
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni7yVNvmA_E
"An angel opened the book of life and wrote down my baby's birth. Then she whispered as she closed the book, "he's too beautiful for Earth."
Psalm 139:13-16
July 9, 2015, started like any other day that week full of discomfort, full of boys and fully pregnant. I went to my final prenatal appointment excited that I was only 5 days away from my scheduled repeat 4x c section.
July 9, 2015 turned into the day time stopped. I sat atop the doctor's table, belly exposed getting measured and I was complaining to my doctor about all the pregnancy related issues I was having: pain, sleeplessness, discomfort, swelling, the list goes on. She assured me I was at the end and only had 5 more days. Then out came the Doppler. She tried one spot, moved to another, then another...
At this point, I'm aware of what's happening but my mind wouldn't let me process anything. I chose to stay completely still hoping and praying that would somehow make a difference. Time is frozen, I laid completely still, belly exposed searching my doctors face for anything. She sat down next to me and tried a new spot saying, "I've never had this much trouble finding this kid". I feel a little relieved. As I laid still I realized my baby's not moving; or is s/he? I'm having contractions or is that movement? What's that flutter down low? Surely it's my baby's arm.
Now, things changed and moved rapidly and an ultrasound machine was wheeled into the room. More gel went on my belly and my Dr. placed the wand and moved it slightly. I still refused to accept any reality other than the one in my heart. In my heart there's my baby flailing on the screen, a 4 chambered heart happily beating away, but my head... Oh my head, was starting to grasp reality and understand the gravity of what's not being said. I finally brought myself to turn my head, to look at the screen. I see the heart chamber I could recognize it anywhere, I see no movement.
My husband joined me at the hospital and we were forced to face reality together, that our son's heart stopped. There's so many questions, so many decisions to be made and what feels like no time. No one prepares you for the harsh reality that even with your 4th kid, in your 3rd trimester, you could lose your precious baby. We were not prepared for this and had no idea what would happen and that decisions would need to be made immediately. Everything seemed to happen so fast.
Jonas Patrick was born still of heart July 10, 2015.
The hospital encouraged us to take pictures and spend, as much time as we wanted with our Jonas. We cherish the time we spent with him, but the time we had was not enough. It will never be enough. Cooper University Hopsital does not have a Cuddle Cot. Of course, we did not know about Cuddle Cots at the time, but what a gift it would have been had they had one to offer us. We now hope to give the gift of time to another family who will hear those words no one wants to hear from their OB, "I'm so sorry there's no heartbeat."
We would like to put together "Cuddling with Jonas" support packages that we will donate to the hospital so they can give them out to grieving parents. There are so many resources and outlets available to families in our situation they we didn't know existed until after the fact. Items in these packages would include but aren't limited to: list of online resources, a gift certificate for the purchase of Molly or Alexa bears (to relieve the finiancial burden caused by such a life changing event and fill their empty arms), the website for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, a list of baby picture ideas (ie. hands, feet, picture with mom, with dad, etc.) a baby blanket and hat. There are some things that I regret not knowing or doing during this time and I wouln't want any other parent to live with these regrets.
Our hope is that these "Cuddling with Jonas" care packages will give grieving parents comfort, options and support they had not considered. Since time is such a gift during these events we would like to raise funds to offset the cost of these packages to be donated, along with the Cuddle Cot.
Unfortunately, stillbirths occur in 1 out of 160 pregnancies each year, so there will be more families who will need this precious "gift of time". A donation to this cause will allow us to purchase a Cuddle Cot for Cooper University Hospital, so that the parents that follow in our heartbroken footsteps will have more time with their babies.
What is a Cuddle Cot and why is it necessary? The Cuddle Cot cooling pad is placed in a moses basket; it is connected by a specially insulated hose and is quietly cooled using the Cuddle Cot cooling unit. In a warm hospital room the baby's condition can deteriorate quickly, therefore cooling the baby is absolutely essentail. The Cuddle Cot system is designed for premature and full term babies.
The use of a Cuddle Cot would have preserved Jonas's features and body and allowed us to spend more time with him before he began to change. Watching your baby's features deteriorate and change in front of your eyes while you're learning to say hello and goodbye is heartbreaking. Had a Cuddle Cot been available we would have had more time with him, the way we wanted to remember him. He was absolutely perfect, but because of the warm room his body began to change and we needed to say our final goodbyes. We do cherish the time we spent getting to know him, his ten little fingers, his ten little toes, his curly hair, but what we wouldn't give to have had more time with him.
Please help us make our dream a reality and give the gift of time to the parents who will follow in our heartbroken footsteps. We hope to honor Jonas's life and memory by donating a Cuddle Cot to Cooper University Hosptial in his name. We thank you all for your conitnued prayers, support and donations. Just sharing his life and being able to explain what a Cuddle Cot is has brought some meaning and purpose during our grieving. There's not a day that goes by that we don't think of Jonas.
We have raised the donation cap, as we were unaware of go fund me fees. We want to ensure we can cover the costs of the comfort packages. Thank you all for your countinued prayers & support
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ni7yVNvmA_E
"An angel opened the book of life and wrote down my baby's birth. Then she whispered as she closed the book, "he's too beautiful for Earth."
Psalm 139:13-16
Organizer
Jennifer Nichole
Organizer
Sicklerville, NJ
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