Family’s heartfelt donation gives parents the gift of time to say final goodbyes
Bantick family donate a cuddle cot to Rockingham General Hospital
Born on his due date in 2019, Jackson Cole Bantick is the third son for Amy and her husband Josh. Devastatingly, Jackson was born sleeping.
“It was a perfect pregnancy, much like that of my previous two sons but on the day Jackson was due I didn’t feel right. I went into labour and when I got to the hospital, I was told there was no heart beat,” Mum Amy Bantick said.“They discovered later that I had a staph infection which unfortunately had been passed through to Jackson.
“We were at Fiona Stanley Hospital and they had a Cuddle Cot so we were able to spend three days with him by our side in our room.”
A Cuddle Cot is a specialised cooling system that lies beneath the baby in a custom designed bassinet and allows parents to spend precious moments with their child before saying their final goodbyes.
To support other families through their grieving process, the Bantick’s fundraised $6,500 to donate a Cuddle Cot to Rockingham General Hospital (RGH) where their older sons, Cooper now 14 and Kade aged 11, were both born.
RGH Clinical Midwifery Manager Beth Taylor said the gracious donation means the maternity ward can provide care to families who experience stillbirth by allowing them to keep their baby close to them.
“By enabling families to spend time with their babies, they can create memories with their precious baby like any other family who gets to take their baby home,” Beth said.
“The midwifery team works with the family to create memories such as photos, hand and footprints, with the Cuddle Cot ensuring their baby has a safe place to lay during those days as the family gets ready to say goodbye.
“This is the second cuddle cot that Bears of Hope pregnancy and infant loss support group has donated to RGH through beneficiaries like the Bantick family."
Every day there are six babies stillborn in Australia, and for Amy, she hopes their donation raises awareness and brings some comfort to other families faced with the same heartbreaking loss.
“A cuddle cot is all about giving parents the gift of time - time you won’t ever get again,” Amy said.
“We had extended family who were able to come and go from the privacy of our room to spend time with Jackson.
“There was one night when no one was around and I just wanted to hold him - I was able to undress him and just see all his perfect little baby rolls.”
Every year on 26 February, Jackson’s birthday, the family gather in their street with their family and friends and sing happy birthday to Jackson.
“His loss didn’t just impact us, there’s a flow on effect to extended family, friends and neighbours, so we take the opportunity to celebrate him.
“It’s important to remember them as much as you can and I feel like Jackson is always around us. That brings me comfort.”
Amy, Josh, Cooper and Kade would like to thank everyone who supported them and donated to this great cause in honour of Jackson.