In October last year, Rachelle Bandey and Jason Horrocks, then living in Undera, were looking forward to adding to their family of three and bringing into the world a sibling for two-year-old Iylah.
But at the 36-week mark of the pregnancy, Rachelle – a critical care nurse at GV Health at the time – became concerned after not feeling much movement from her baby.
“We did an ultrasound and they couldn’t find a heartbeat,” she said.
“The radiologist did a proper ultrasound and found the baby had passed away a couple of days prior; she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck.”
After an emergency caesarean section on October 9, Rachelle and Jason spent three days in hospital saying goodbye to their daughter, Ava.
“We had the cuddle cot which keeps bubs nice and cold so you can have time with them,” Rachelle said.
“Quite a few hospitals don’t have cuddle cots so parents are having to say goodbye much sooner than probably they would like.
“Three days was perfect for us. It was really nice we got that time; I’m 100 per cent at peace with it.”
Now the family, which has since moved to Moama, want to help give other families the same closure they walked away with thanks to the cuddle cot.
Jason’s brother Kent Horrocks is going to have his impressive beard shaved off at High St Barber on August 21, with the family hoping to raise $20,000 for the Bears of Hope Foundation.
“For one cuddle cot it’s about $6900. I thought it would be really cool if we could get a couple,” Rachelle said.
“I felt really sad to know some families don’t get that time. Being a nurse, I’ve seen people that have stillbirths and only had two hours with their baby.
“I thought, it’s horrible to not have time to say goodbye. I just don’t know if we would’ve ever had that closure.”
The Bears of Hope Foundation is a not-for-profit providing support for families and parents who have experienced the loss of a baby during pregnancy, birth and infancy.
“When Ava passed away, they gave us a bag from the Bears of Hope Foundation, and they give you a bear named after a stillborn baby,” Rachelle said.
“We got baby Sophie and it represents another stillborn baby looking after your baby.”
Rachelle thanked Bears of Hope and nurses Maddie, Sarah, Beryl and Lauren in the maternity ward at GV Health, who she said “were amazing”.
She also wished to thank celebrant Ian Bull and Craig Tobias from Clive Coventry Funerals for their support during a hard time for the family.
To donate visit mycause.com.au/page/248700/the-a-team-ava-molly-horrocks
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