THE donation of a Cuddle Cot to Coffs Harbour Health Campus Maternity Unit has been made by the Baxter family of Mudgee, who used the pain and trauma of having a stillborn baby to give other heartbroken families what they need in their time of grief – a chance to say goodbye.

Nicole and Kevin Baxter’s baby Paddy was delivered at 22 weeks on 8 November last year.

Advertise with News of The Area today.
It’s worth it for your business.
Message us.
Phone us – (02) 4981 8882.
Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au

But their family, which includes daughter Lily, was determined to create a legacy for Paddy that would help other families.

Through Bears of Hope, a pregnancy and infant-loss support charity, the Baxters launched a fundraising campaign for a Cuddle Cot, a cooling system and bassinet that enables families to spend extra time with their precious baby before saying their goodbyes.

The family was delighted to be able to travel to Coffs Harbour to present the unit last week.

Coffs Harbour Health Campus Maternity Unit Manager Tania Andrews told News Of The Area, “It is so important to have this time with your baby.

“This Cuddle Cot is giving a gift to families which is so precious.

“It is so important in the grieving process, and we are so grateful,” she said.

With the presentation of the $6,500 cot, the Maternity team at Coffs Harbour Health Campus expressed their gratitude to the Baxters for their amazing generosity at such a sad time for their own family.

“The change this makes to families who have experienced a loss is unimaginable,” Tania said.

“This is an opportunity for parents to have time with their baby – and it is only because of a donation such as this that we can provide that service.

“We are enormously grateful to the Baxters, their family and friends for supporting grieving families from the Coffs Coast.”

Nicole Baxter said she and her family were honoured to be able to do something positive as a result of their experience.

“We were able to have Paddy stay with us in the hospital for two incredible nights…to spend time with him, cuddle him and make precious memories,” she said.

“Without the Cuddle Cot we would have only had a matter of hours.

“The hardest thing we have ever had to do is walk out of the hospital without our baby, but we are extremely grateful for the time we got and so thankful a Cuddle Cot was available at our hospital.

“We will always have those memories and wanted to ensure we could do the same for other families.”

By Andrea FERRARI