Ashlie’s Embrace on the Road: A Marathon of Dedications and Compassionate Care
Recently, Ashlie’s Embrace co-founder Erin Hopkins Maroon and board member Crystal Tackett-Eller embarked on an epic tour across the Dallas, Texas region, dedicating CuddleCots and checking in on existing ones. Their journey covered nearly 400 miles and took them to five hospitals where they met with dedicated staff, presented to a hospital’s executive board, connected with a CuddleCot family, and even met with the founder of M.E.N.D., a national support network for grieving parents.
During this tour, we were touched by the stories they shared with us. At one of the largest hospitals in the nation, the pathology team requested that the CuddleCot be used to preserve a baby if an autopsy is needed, demonstrating the far-reaching impact of this compassionate tool. Another hospital shared a powerful story of a family who kept their baby in the room for a week to allow time for family to fly in, showing the invaluable gift of time the CuddleCot provides. It’s clear that the value of the CuddleCot extends far beyond just a few hours—it offers families the precious time they need to grieve and say goodbye.
At every dedication, the emotional response was overwhelming. Nurses shed tears of gratitude, recognizing the profound impact this gift of time has on the families they care for. It’s a testament to the difference we are making together—one CuddleCot at a time.
Thank you to Medical City McKinney, Medical City Weatherford, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – McKinney, Baylor Scott & White All Saints Medical Center – Fort Worth, and Baylor University Medical Center for welcoming the Ashlie’s Embrace team Your dedication to providing compassionate bereavement care to grieving families is leading the way in changing the standards of bereavement care in the U.S.
We also want to extend a heartfelt thanks to Ashlie’s embrace 2019 CuddleCot donors, including Meg Leonardo-Quintero Leary, who recently donated a CuddleCot in memory of her son, Max. The support and dedication of our community continue to inspire us, and we are so grateful for the incredible efforts of everyone involved in facilitating these donations.
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