Borders Mum Gives Back For “CJ”
A Borders mum has paid tribute to the son she lost in childbirth by bringing comfort to others who suffer such heartache.
Following the loss of her first baby at 34 weeks pregnant in March 2008, mum Paula McDevitt and her family wanted to raise funds to give back to the labour ward at Borders General Hospital in memory of her son Cameron-James, known affectionately as ‘CJ’.
While thinking about how she could help others in her situation, Paula learned about the CuddleCot, a special device designed to give grieving families with stillborn or neo-natal losses more time to create memories with their baby. The CuddleCot and CuddleBlanket provide grieving families with the opportunity to spend time with their loved ones without needing to cool the entire room. This time allows families to create precious memories, enables mothers to recover from medication side effects, make arrangements without feeling rushed, and gives family members the chance to visit, all while keeping their loved ones close by.
Knowing first-hand the feeling of loss that comes with losing a child, Paula thought this would be a fitting way to give other grieving families some comfort. In October last year, Paula hosted an online raffle to raise funds. She had an overwhelming response with more than 50 prizes kindly donated from friends, family and local businesses. Raffle sales and additional donations helped raise an incredible £1,800.
Paula and her family visited the Labour ward at the district hospital last month to present the CuddleCot to members of the team.
She said: “My family and I sincerely hope this gift provides comfort to families in their time of grief and honours the memory of their beloved angels by giving them the precious gift of time.”
A spokesperson for The Difference, NHS Borders’ official charity, said: “The addition of this CuddleCot allows more time for grieving families faced with an unimaginable situation.
“We are so touched that Paula and her family have chosen to give back in this way and hope this donation will be a lasting tribute to CJ.”