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As most of you know, Dave and I welcomed our first daughter into the world on February 24th, 2018. We named her Bridie Rose and she is so loved. After a very straight forward pregnancy, she was stillborn and so we were introduced to the world of baby loss and cuddle cots.
Cuddle cots are cooling machines that allow families extra time with their precious baby if they pass away. They allow time for photos, bathing, dressing, family and/or friends to meet the little one and they give space for parents to try their hardest to pour a lifetime of love into their baby. Below is what they look like. 6 babies a day are stillborn in Australia. Everyday! That is alot of heart broken families each year. And that isn't including those that pass away after birth.
You would think a device like this, that offers so much to bereaved families would be available at every hospital in Australia. Sadly that's not the case. In fact, there are many hospitals in Australia that don't have a cuddle cot. It's not deemed an essential medical device so hospitals have to rely on donated cots to support families. Dave and I were fortunate enough to have our Bridie at a hospital that had a cuddle cot. It had been donated by a family who lost their baby a few years before. The cuddle cot allowed us to take Bridie home for a day and spend some very precious and treasured moments as a family of three. We did as much with her as we could, because it was our only opportunity and I am so grateful everyday that we did. The cuddle cot we used made this possible. Without it, we would've only had a couple of hours to spend with her.
As soon as we used the cuddle cot, I knew I wanted to donate one in Bridie's name to give others the opportunities that we were fortunate enough to have. So, on Bridie's 3rd birthday next year, with your help and support we will purchase a cuddle cot to donate to a hospital in the area to give families time.
Bridie is so missed, everyday. We have spent these years choosing love and learning to parent a child we can no longer see but feel in everything we do. Donating things in her name is one way we are able to keep her memory alive. We have donated books to hospitals for bereaved parents and toys to the less fortunate on Christmas and her birthday. We would love to donate time and opportunities through a cuddle cot for her next birthday.
Thank you for helping us love on our girl and continue spreading her love to others. It means the absolute world to both of us and our family.
Cuddle cots are cooling machines that allow families extra time with their precious baby if they pass away. They allow time for photos, bathing, dressing, family and/or friends to meet the little one and they give space for parents to try their hardest to pour a lifetime of love into their baby. Below is what they look like. 6 babies a day are stillborn in Australia. Everyday! That is alot of heart broken families each year. And that isn't including those that pass away after birth.
You would think a device like this, that offers so much to bereaved families would be available at every hospital in Australia. Sadly that's not the case. In fact, there are many hospitals in Australia that don't have a cuddle cot. It's not deemed an essential medical device so hospitals have to rely on donated cots to support families. Dave and I were fortunate enough to have our Bridie at a hospital that had a cuddle cot. It had been donated by a family who lost their baby a few years before. The cuddle cot allowed us to take Bridie home for a day and spend some very precious and treasured moments as a family of three. We did as much with her as we could, because it was our only opportunity and I am so grateful everyday that we did. The cuddle cot we used made this possible. Without it, we would've only had a couple of hours to spend with her.
As soon as we used the cuddle cot, I knew I wanted to donate one in Bridie's name to give others the opportunities that we were fortunate enough to have. So, on Bridie's 3rd birthday next year, with your help and support we will purchase a cuddle cot to donate to a hospital in the area to give families time.
Bridie is so missed, everyday. We have spent these years choosing love and learning to parent a child we can no longer see but feel in everything we do. Donating things in her name is one way we are able to keep her memory alive. We have donated books to hospitals for bereaved parents and toys to the less fortunate on Christmas and her birthday. We would love to donate time and opportunities through a cuddle cot for her next birthday.
Thank you for helping us love on our girl and continue spreading her love to others. It means the absolute world to both of us and our family.
Organizer and beneficiary
David Ashby
Beneficiary