Werribee Mercy Hospital has welcomed the donation of a cuddle cot, in memory of a much-loved baby boy.
In May last year, Altona Meadows mother Victoria Reynolds lost her son, Dexter Charles, at five months gestation.
At the time, a Point Cook family who had lost their little girl donated a cuddle cot to the Mercy.
Ms Reynolds said that for her and husband Nathan, the cuddle cot – a specially-designed device which keeps a stillborn baby’s body at a temperature of preservation – offered them a precious chance to spend time with Dexter.
“It’s nice to be able to give families an opportunity to cuddle for as long as they want,” she said.
“It’s giving people the gift of time.”
Ms Reynolds said her time at the hospital had inspired her to help other parents who lost their babies.
With the “invaluable help” of her friend Anna Quinlan and donations from local businesses, Ms Reynolds organised a fundraising high-tea in September.
Seventy people attended the event at the Seabrook Community Centre, helping to raise about $3000.
Ms Reynolds said another friend wrote an article about the fundraising efforts for her company’s newsletter, which resulted in her boss donating $1000.
Friends and relatives donated the rest of the $4800 needed to buy a cuddle cot in Dexter’s memory, which Ms Reynolds recently presented to Werribee Mercy.
Werribee Mercy Hospital maternity department nurse unit manager Louise Thompson said that Ms Reynolds’ donation was “very generous and kind”.
