Couple donate CuddleCot in memory of their daughter Penelope
A Forth Valley couple has donated a CuddleCot in memory of their baby daughter Penelope to help support other parents who have experienced the death of a baby.
Staff at Forth Valley Royal Hospital supported Melissa and Ryan Hooper by offering them the use of a CuddleCot so they could take Penelope home for a few days and let other family members meet her. It was a precious time they say and was a great comfort to them.
Ryan Hooper explained: “Although this has been a devastating and heart-breaking time for all of us, the desire to do something in Penelope‘s memory has been palpable. When Penelope was born sleeping on 23rd February 2023 the staff at Forth Valley Royal Hospital provided us with a CuddleCot to use. This preserved our gorgeous girl and gave us priceless and everlasting memories and the opportunity to spend time with our daughter.
“The CuddleCot brought peace and comfort to Melissa and me and it is something we will be forever grateful for to the team at Forth Valley Royal Hospital for giving us the opportunity to share these moments and bring our beautiful Penelope home.”
He said “All donations will go directly to support grieving families like us in the hope it will bring them comfort. I would like to thank everyone who has donated for their love and support and helped us create a lasting tribute to our beautiful baby daughter Penelope.”
The couple visited Forth Valley Royal Hospital to hand over the CuddleCot to NHS Forth Valley Chaplain David Harper, Bereavement Adviser Catriona Addison, and midwife Chloe Jackson who said it had been a privilege to look after the couple after the sad death of their lovely baby girl.
NHS Forth Valley Bereavement Adviser, Catriona Addison, added: “Everyone at the hospital who has met Ryan and Melissa has been humbled by their kindness, generosity and determination to do something positive to help other families who have experienced the loss of a baby.
“We are very grateful to them for everything they have done and continue to do to support local services at Forth Valley Royal Hospital.”