Family donate Cuddle Cot to RD&E’s labour ward

A family from Exeter have donated a Cuddle Cot to the Labour Ward at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in memory of their son Louie.

The cot enables bereaved parents to spend more time with their babies if they are stillborn or pass away shortly after birth. The cooling cot can be wrapped around a baby allowing parents to stay with them for longer and giving other family members a chance to say goodbye.

Emma Bolt and Ace High decided to start fundraising for a new Cuddle Cot for the RD&E’s Labour Ward after they used one with their son Louie, who sadly passed away on Christmas Day 2016. 

Emma and Ace explained: “It was something that we wanted to do since the day we left hospital. We knew that there was only one Cuddle Cot on the ward so we wanted to try and fundraise for a second one so that other people could use one too if they needed it.”

Dad Ace took on a challenging 5K inflatable obstacle course at Westpoint in July to raise funds to purchase the Cuddle Cot. He was joined by six colleagues from Ace’s work local electrical company Devondale to complete the course, including Donna Tap, Aaron High, Mark Letheren, Martin Mills, Charlie Caddy and Emma Tap. The team were sponsored by generous family, friends and Devondale customers.

Thanks to their efforts the team raised an impressive £1,700, which has funded the new Cuddle Cot entirely, with the rest being donated to RD&E’s Maternity Bereavement Fund.

Emma, Ace and representatives from the team recently visited the RD&E to present the new Cuddle Cot to Labour Ward staff.

Labour Ward Matron Karen Tonkin said: “We are very grateful to Emma, Ace and the team for raising the money to buy the Cuddle Cot and for the donation to the Bereavement Fund. This will have a big impact on the care given to parents grieving for their lost baby and will be much appreciated.”

Pictured, left to right: Donna Tap; Ace High; Emma Bolt; Karen Tonkin, Labour Ward Matron; Aaron High.