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Group of B.C. residents raise money for cuddle cots for stillborn babies

Credit: MarissaVphotography.

A group of B.C. residents have decided to raise money to buy cuddle cots for Fraser Health hospitals.

A cuddle cot, also known as a cooling cot, is a device that keeps a deceased baby cool, allowing the family to spend more time with the baby.

Annet Jansen’s daughter Reyanna was stillborn last year. As the hospital did not have a cuddle cot, Reyanna had to be taken to the funeral home the day after she was born.

“This is not the way to say goodbye,” said Jansen in an email. “The only few days you have before the funeral you should be able to stay together, to take in every little detail of your baby. To say a proper goodbye, have siblings say goodbye. Our family was all abroad [and] they wanted to come and see her, too.”

“If there is no cooling system around, those little bodies don’t keep well.”

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A cooling cot. Credit: Flexmort
A cooling cot. Credit: Flexmort.

READ MORE: ‘Every parent’s worst nightmare’: Breaking the silence on stillbirths

Now she and a group of others are raising money to buy cuddle cots, which cost about $3,000 each.

In just over a year they have been able to donate five cots to Fraser Health hospitals – two in Abbotsford, one in Chilliwack, Langley, Surrey and New Westminster.

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They are now hoping to fundraise for at least four or five more for White Rock, Ridge Meadows, Burnaby and more for Surrey and New Westminster.

“We’d love to see one go to each hospital in Canada, but we’re taking a step at the time and are donating to B.C. hospitals first,” said Jansen.

You can donate to their cause online here. You can also follow their progress on Facebook.

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READ MORE: ‘I’m still a mom’: After daughter was stillborn, Surrey woman wants to help others

PHOTOS: Donating the cuddle cots. Pictured are Dana Selles, Chelsea Meier, Annet Janssen and Wendy Winkelaar. Not pictured are Roos Spanjers, Katie Walsh and Joanne Bos.

Credit: MarissaVphotography.
Credit: MarissaVphotography.
Credit: MarissaVphotography.
Credit: MarissaVphotography.
Credit: MarissaVphotography.

 

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