'Angel Moms' Donate CuddleCot To Little Company of Mary Hospital

EVERGREEN PARK, IL -- For parents experiencing the tragic loss of a baby every moment is precious. To buy time for parents coping with the loss of miscarriage, stillborn birth or neonatal death, Little Company of Mary Hospital’s Perinatal Loss Committee has donated a CuddleCot to the Family Birth Center. Little Company of Mary is the first hospital in the Chicago area to receive the CuddleCot.

After they each lost children, committee members Kathleen McShane, Cathy Petritis and Susie Schultz partnered to bring a CuddleCot to Little Company of Mary. The three “angel moms” made their vision a reality on April 24. Coping with the loss of a baby is an incredibly difficult event for parents. The CuddleCot is a piece of medical equipment that acts like a refrigerated bassinet that allows babies to stay in the room with their parents so they don’t need to be taken to hospital morgue.

Families are able to spend every moment with their baby especially where every minute counts during his or her short time on earth -- whether changing a nappy, dress the baby, taking photographs, or simply staying close while dealing with their loss. A cooling pad is placed in a Moses basket, crib, pram or bed. It’s connected by a specially insulated hose and is quietly cooled using the CuddleCot cooling unit.

“We are so honored to be able to provide this gift to Little Company of Mary’s Family Birth Center and to all of those families that may also have to endure the painful experience of losing a baby,” Schultz said in a press release. “When a baby's life is brief, every moment is precious. The CuddleCot offers families more time with their little one.”

The Perinatal Loss Committee at LCMH was established in 2005. The committee trains all of the nurses on the unit to offer guidance to any parent who have experienced a perinatal loss, either by miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death. They offer compassionate guidance and resources to support families during their time of loss. If this type of loss occurs at the hospital, the Family Birth Center Staff steps in to offer immediate emotional, spiritual and physical support to the family. Additionally, a chaplain is called to accompany the family and offer guidance and prayer during the sensitive time. The team works both collaboratively and individually with the family based on their needs. The Pastoral Care Team at LCMH guides the family throughout the process and provides follow-up calls as needed.

With difficult decisions to be made, bereaved parents are guided and supported by the Pastoral Care Chaplain in helping them made the necessary burial arrangements required by the Illinois State law in addition to guiding them to the peace that comes when they know their baby has been laid to rest. The Perinatal Loss Committee at LCMH recognizes that this is a painful and grief-stricken time for families and, in recognizing the value of savoring the treasured memories of their little one, the committee designed a special memorial box for families. The packages were carefully designed to serve as a treasure of remembrances.

Memory boxes are thoughtfully prepared and contain blankets and hats that were sewed, crocheted and donated by devoted LCMH employees and volunteers. Photos are taken of the baby tenderly wrapped in a blanket and offered to the family. Additionally, the memory box contains an invitation to the annual Cherished Angel Memory Garden service, a support booklet specific to their loss, a tender letter to mom, and two angels pins honoring the life gone too soon.

If you or someone you know is grieving the loss of a baby or child, Little Company of Mary’s Perinatal Committee encourages reflection at the Cherished Angel Memory Garden, which is located in the east lawn of the Little Company of Mary’s Sisters Convent at 2801 West 93rd Street in Evergreen Park. On Sunday, May 21, there will be a special service of remembrance to celebrate the lives of babies who have left the earth too soon. The service starts promptly at 1 p.m., rain or shine. Refreshments to immediately follow a beautiful butterfly release. Parking is available in the hospital’s north parking lot on California Avenue. Please RSVP to Gina Demas, RN, 708.229.5928 or email gdemas@lcmh.org.