Liam's 3rd Birthday Fundraiser for Cuddle Cot
Donation protected
On September 27, 2016 we went to the hospital because Liam hadn't been moving as much as he usually did. We were hopeful that we would be leaving with a baby. Instead we were given the worst news a parent could ever hear: Liam had died. Two days later, on his due date, he was born, and we left the hospital empty handed. Although the time we had with him was brief, we will forever cherish the short 5 hours we had to hold, kiss, hug, cuddle, and love on Liam.
For Liam's 3rd birthday, in his memory, we are raising money to donate a Cuddle Cot to a Chicagoland hospital that provides care for underserved communities. A Cuddle Cot is a device that is placed inside a cradle to keep the body cool and slow down post-mortem changes to the baby. It also allows for the baby to remain in the room with the family for the duration of their time in the hospital, instead of taking the baby to and from the morgue during extended stays. A Cuddle Cot could have given us more time with Liam, and also would have minimized the changes to his body we witnessed during that time. We would have loved to have had more time to say goodbye, and we know other grieving families would also like that opportunity.
About 24,000 babies are stillborn in the United States every year. About the same number die in their first year of life. After the death of a baby, spending time with the baby to bond is vital in the grieving process. The Cuddle Cot allows families dignified time with their babies, and provides a tool for hospital providers to support bereaved families, when there is so little they can otherwise do to help. NYT Article.
The last two years for Liam's birthday we have held successful diaper drives, collecting over 40,000 diapers, wipes, and other supplies for infants. Through partnerships with community based organizations such as Respond Now, United Way-Will County, Aunt Martha's, Advocate Trinity Hospital, St. James-Wabash Food Pantry, S.W.A.D.D.L.E., The Community Closet of Steger, amongst other one-time donations, over 1000 families have received essential diapering supplies to keep their babies healthy. The diaper bundles also provide education to the families on how to keep their babies safe. They are packaged with information on safe pregnancy from the Star Legacy Foundation as well as safe sleep and SIDS reduction practices from SIDS of Illinois. Thanks to the success of our first two diaper drives and ongoing donations, we still have an ample supply to donate. Thus, this year we are shifting gears and want to focus on an initiative to support bereaved families (of course diaper donations and other supplies are always accepted! → Amazon wishlist).
One hundred $30 donations will provide a Cuddle Cot, but no contribution is too great or too small. If we exceed our goal, excess funds will be applied to the purchase of Cuddle Cots for additional hospitals. If you would like your donation to be in the memory of an infant loved one, send the name to [email redacted] or @giftsfromliam on Facebook and we will add the baby’s name to a memorial plaque attached to the Cuddle Cot.
For Liam's 3rd birthday, in his memory, we are raising money to donate a Cuddle Cot to a Chicagoland hospital that provides care for underserved communities. A Cuddle Cot is a device that is placed inside a cradle to keep the body cool and slow down post-mortem changes to the baby. It also allows for the baby to remain in the room with the family for the duration of their time in the hospital, instead of taking the baby to and from the morgue during extended stays. A Cuddle Cot could have given us more time with Liam, and also would have minimized the changes to his body we witnessed during that time. We would have loved to have had more time to say goodbye, and we know other grieving families would also like that opportunity.
About 24,000 babies are stillborn in the United States every year. About the same number die in their first year of life. After the death of a baby, spending time with the baby to bond is vital in the grieving process. The Cuddle Cot allows families dignified time with their babies, and provides a tool for hospital providers to support bereaved families, when there is so little they can otherwise do to help. NYT Article.
The last two years for Liam's birthday we have held successful diaper drives, collecting over 40,000 diapers, wipes, and other supplies for infants. Through partnerships with community based organizations such as Respond Now, United Way-Will County, Aunt Martha's, Advocate Trinity Hospital, St. James-Wabash Food Pantry, S.W.A.D.D.L.E., The Community Closet of Steger, amongst other one-time donations, over 1000 families have received essential diapering supplies to keep their babies healthy. The diaper bundles also provide education to the families on how to keep their babies safe. They are packaged with information on safe pregnancy from the Star Legacy Foundation as well as safe sleep and SIDS reduction practices from SIDS of Illinois. Thanks to the success of our first two diaper drives and ongoing donations, we still have an ample supply to donate. Thus, this year we are shifting gears and want to focus on an initiative to support bereaved families (of course diaper donations and other supplies are always accepted! → Amazon wishlist).
One hundred $30 donations will provide a Cuddle Cot, but no contribution is too great or too small. If we exceed our goal, excess funds will be applied to the purchase of Cuddle Cots for additional hospitals. If you would like your donation to be in the memory of an infant loved one, send the name to [email redacted] or @giftsfromliam on Facebook and we will add the baby’s name to a memorial plaque attached to the Cuddle Cot.
Fundraising team: Gifts from Liam (3)
Anna Lorena Calix
Organizer
Chicago, IL
Lorette Calix
Team member
Wilson Calix
Team member
