UPDATE (10/28): We did not expect to get to write this update so soon, but because of everyone’s generosity we get to share some really amazing news: we not only reached, but exceeded, our goal of $3,000 towards a Cuddle Cot in honor of Maddox. 

We are speechless and in tears. There are no words that truly express our gratitude to each and every one of you who shared and donated. You have no idea the impact your kindness and generosity will have on these families - families who are experiencing the unimaginable. 

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We are coming up on Maddox Lee's first birthday - a day we’ve been preparing our hearts for since the day he died, as we know his birthday will look so much different than it should.

 

After much thought and prayer, Brody and I have decided how we’d like to honor Maddox for his birthday and would like to invite our family and friends to join us.

 

This is extremely near and dear to our hearts, as it’s a gift that will be given to other families who are experiencing the same devastating loss that we have. We’d like to give other bereaved parents the one thing we desperately wish we had with our son — the gift of time.

 

Most bereaved parents, like us, are completely blindsided when they find out their baby has died. In the midst of complete shock and heartbreak, we must attempt to fit a lifetime of love and memories into mere moments, shortly after giving birth. Meanwhile, parents have to watch their babies bodies change before their eyes.

 

Since losing Maddox, we’ve learned that there are options out there for grieving parents which allow them to spend as much time as they need with their babies. Families who are given adequate support, resources, and options will often spend a full 24 hours or even longer with their babies. Brody and I had 11 hours with Maddox, that’s it. Most of those hours were spent recovering from birth, being interrupted by nurses and doctors, making decisions about funeral/burial arrangements, and trying to keep our family updated. Out of love and care for Maddox, we had to make the impossible decision to say goodbye to him sooner than we were ready to. Had we known these resources existed and had they been provided to us, the added pain of saying goodbye to him so soon would have been avoided. While no amount of time with Maddox would have been long enough to take away the devastating grief we’ve experienced, every minute counts. The memories made in that short window of time are all you get and they’re essential.

 

For Maddox’s first birthday, we’d like to donate a Cuddle Cot (a special bassinet designed specifically for stillborn babies) to the hospital where I delivered, in hopes that other families will have what we were not given — more time to rest, process, and grieve, more time to love on and make memories with their babies.

If you’d like to read more about what a Cuddle Cot is and why it’s so essential for grieving families, here’s the link to the website: https://flexmort.com/cuddle-cots/

 

The cost of a cuddle cot is approximately $3,000. We understand this is a hefty cost and know it may take time - possibly years - to achieve our goal, but we will continue raising money until we are able to bless families with this invaluable gift.

 

We’d like to give others the opportunity to contribute towards this gift in honor of Maddox. I’ve created a GoFundMe or you can Venmo me directly at @madisonryleesorensen.

 

Our sweet boy has already left such an impact on others, and we know his legacy will just continue to help so many - specifically other bereaved families and their families.

 

While our hearts break imagining spending Maddox’s first birthday without him in our arms, we look forward to honoring him and showering him with love on Nov 22nd — we hope you’ll join us.