Cuddle Cot for Columbus Community Hospital
Donation protected
Eight months from today our beautiful baby girl, Keeley, who was stillborn due to a chromosomal issue, would be turning ten years old. I have always wanted to do something “big” to honor our precious daughter. Although I delivered all my babies in Omaha, Columbus quickly became our “home” after moving here three years ago. After an acquaintance experienced her own stillbirth, I knew it was time! While messaging her one night, I found out that the town that we had grown to love did not have a Cuddle Cot available for loss families at the hospital. This is the hospital where our new friends and neighbors deliver their babies. With the current statistics being that 1 in 100 women will experience a stillbirth, I want the families in my community to have a Cuddle Cot available for them, if they end up needing one. What is a Cuddle Cot? A Cuddle Cot is a cooling system that can be placed into a bassinet to slow the process of changes in a baby, which will then allow parents to take their time saying goodbye to their child. My goal during these next eight months is to raise enough money to be able to purchase a Cuddle Cot for Columbus Community Hospital and have it dedicated in March, for Keeley’s 10th birthday!
Our Story:
Shortly after I graduated college, we decided it was time for us to start our family. We were elated when we found out that we were expecting. We had declined all early genetic/chromosome screening, as any news would not change how we would proceed with the pregnancy. During the anatomy scan, at 26 weeks gestation, we were told we were having a baby girl and that she measured small. We were then sent to a perinatologist, who saw two major heart defects and a kidney issue in our daughter. Our doctor said we needed to have an amniocentesis to figure out what exactly was going on. A few painful days later we received the news. Our baby girl had a chromosomal condition called Trisomy 18. We were told this condition was “not compatible with life.”
We were heartbroken from the news we were told. They said more than likely she would not live much longer. Keeley was strong and with each week she continued to grow. At 39 weeks, it was time to be induced. Sometime shortly before birth she passed and was born still. We spent 22 hours with our sweet angel and with each passing hour her tiny little body was rapidly changing. I remember dreading the thought of leaving the hospital without our baby. Leaving her behind was the hardest thing I have ever done. We were incredibly lucky to have those hours with her and to be able to share her with our family, but a Cuddle Cot would have preserved her longer.
Please consider donating in Keeley’s honor. Donate in honor of the baby you have lost. Donate in honor of your mother, sister or friends who have lost a baby. You may not be personally affected by pregnancy loss, but more than likely you know someone who has lost a baby. Unfortunately, 1 in 4 women will have a miscarriage, while 1 in 100 will experience a stillbirth. As a mother who has lost a child, I know how much this can mean for someone to have access to a Cuddle Cot. The moments spent with any baby are precious, but the short time spent with a stillborn are priceless, so please help us extend those moments to the families in our community. We thank you for any and all donations that will help us make our wish come true in honoring our sweet angel, Keeley.
Our Story:
Shortly after I graduated college, we decided it was time for us to start our family. We were elated when we found out that we were expecting. We had declined all early genetic/chromosome screening, as any news would not change how we would proceed with the pregnancy. During the anatomy scan, at 26 weeks gestation, we were told we were having a baby girl and that she measured small. We were then sent to a perinatologist, who saw two major heart defects and a kidney issue in our daughter. Our doctor said we needed to have an amniocentesis to figure out what exactly was going on. A few painful days later we received the news. Our baby girl had a chromosomal condition called Trisomy 18. We were told this condition was “not compatible with life.”
We were heartbroken from the news we were told. They said more than likely she would not live much longer. Keeley was strong and with each week she continued to grow. At 39 weeks, it was time to be induced. Sometime shortly before birth she passed and was born still. We spent 22 hours with our sweet angel and with each passing hour her tiny little body was rapidly changing. I remember dreading the thought of leaving the hospital without our baby. Leaving her behind was the hardest thing I have ever done. We were incredibly lucky to have those hours with her and to be able to share her with our family, but a Cuddle Cot would have preserved her longer.
Please consider donating in Keeley’s honor. Donate in honor of the baby you have lost. Donate in honor of your mother, sister or friends who have lost a baby. You may not be personally affected by pregnancy loss, but more than likely you know someone who has lost a baby. Unfortunately, 1 in 4 women will have a miscarriage, while 1 in 100 will experience a stillbirth. As a mother who has lost a child, I know how much this can mean for someone to have access to a Cuddle Cot. The moments spent with any baby are precious, but the short time spent with a stillborn are priceless, so please help us extend those moments to the families in our community. We thank you for any and all donations that will help us make our wish come true in honoring our sweet angel, Keeley.
Organizer
Erin Settles
Organizer
Columbus, NE