Christina Hoffman of Maywood, MO, understands the devastation that accompanies the death of a child.  Her daughter, Ariyana, passed away at two months old.

“My body just broke down and I fell asleep,” Christina vividly remembers of the day her daughter died. “When I awoke I had only a few minutes with her.”

Sara Koch’s daughter, Rosalie, died at 36 weeks.

“You are saying hello and goodbye at the same time,” Sara observed. “The gift of time with your angel baby is priceless.” 

The pain of their losses led Sara and Christina to research ways other grieving parents could have what they did not - more time with their children who are stillborn or die shortly after birth. Their research led them to the “Cuddle Cot.” Made in Europe, Cuddle Cots look like baby bassinets. The difference is that they are connected to a cooling system that creates additional time for the family to be together by slowing down the natural processes after a death. 

Sara and Christina are members of the SHARE support group, for parents who have a lost a child, that meets at Blessing Hospital. The group launched a fund drive to purchase a Cuddle Cot for the hospital.

When Ann Awerkamp Dickson, administrative director, Blessing Foundation, learned of the women’s research and the fund drive, she told them the SHARE group should keep the money raised for other needs, and the Blessing Foundation would provide the nearly $4,000 for the Cuddle Cot.

 “Annually the Blessing Foundation invites grant requests from department leaders of the Health System. Then, the Foundation Board of Trustees approves how funds will be dispersed.” Ann stated.

“The cuddle cot was an easy choice to support as it allows the family to spend more time with their child. This relatively new technology helps parents during a traumatizing time when comfort is needed,” she concluded.

“It’s such a gift,” said Jamie Kane, RN, director, Blessed Beginnings. Blessed Beginnings is the maternity unit of Blessing Hospital. “The fact that the idea came from two moms who have been there and are now paying it forward to other moms makes the gift even more meaningful.”

“I’m so proud of Christina and Sara,” said Holly Woodruff, RN, grief facilitator, SHARE and Nurse Educator, Nursing Professional Development, Blessing Hospital. “It is a positive influence on one’s own grief when a person is able to do something in their loved one’s memory.

“Blessing prides itself on giving the best care,” Sara concluded. “Grieving parents need that, too.”

Sara, donors to the Blessing Foundation could not agree more.