Maggie’s Stillbirth Legacy – regional fundraiser and Pride of Britain award winners - paid a special visit to the Emergency Department at Royal Preston Hospital earlier this month.
Maggie's mum Sarah Bernasconi-Parsons, and brother, Oliver brought over 40 bear hug bags (early loss keepsakes), 20 memory boxes for babies and children, 150 adult loss keepsakes, a cuddle cot and Moses basket, totalling £3,670.
Sarah, from Blackburn, will return to provide invaluable training to staff on bereavement care and on how to use and maintain the cuddle
cot, which allows the parents to spend time with their babies and say goodbye on their terms, as it slows down the natural changes in their body after death.
Sarah lost her daughter Maggie in June 2015 after she was born at Burnley General Hospital, and decided to launch Maggie’s Stillbirth Legacy to help other parents who suffer a stillbirth or have a baby or toddler that passes away.
When she found out that Royal Preston Hospital was looking for knitted hearts for people who pass away in the Emergency Department, she got in touch to donate some from Maggie’s Stillbirth Legacy.
When Melanie Marsden, Emergency Department Sister/Charge Nurse, messaged to thank her, Sarah asked what else the department required, and was able to donate the cuddle cot, memory boxes and other items.
Sarah said: “I’m really happy to be able to support Royal Preston Hospital, and parents who have lost a child. I work with eight other hospitals across the UK, so RPH is the ninth.
“If any good can come out of awful circumstances, it all helps.
“I’ll come back in and show how to use the equipment properly, to maintain and clean it, and give some care on bereavement as well, around my experience.
“I run a group every month for bereaved parents, and it helps to explain what parents want in that situation.”
Melanie added: “I’m so happy we’ve connected with Sarah, she’s an absolute diamond!
“Her response to me getting in touch has been amazing, and I’d just like to say thank you again to her, and for the remarkable work she does for bereaved families, it really does make a difference.”
