Gateshead parents who lost their baby girl at 35 weeks help others experiencing child loss
Grieving parents who lost their baby girl have paid a special tribute to their daughter as they aim to help others who experience child loss.
Lizzy Robinson and David McNestry were overjoyed when they found out they were expecting their first child together in 2020 and said they “couldn’t wait” for her arrival. But at 35 weeks pregnant, Lizzy was admitted to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary after experiencing a uterine rupture.
And there was further heartbreak for the couple when they were given the devastating news that their baby girl’s heart had stopped beating, moments before Lizzy was rushed in for surgery.
David said: “I was devastated. I had to phone all of Lizzy’s family and my family after being told our baby had no heartbeat and then I was told that Lizzy was going to be in intensive care, it was devastating.”
Lizzy added: “I was in surgery for six hours and when they woke me up, Lyla was there with David.”
Lyla-Jo Kate McNestry was born on January 7, 2021, weighing nine pounds. Despite hospital efforts to revive her, she sadly passed away.
Amid the heartbreak, the couple was able to find some comfort in knowing they could spend some precious time with Lyla-Jo before saying goodbye, thanks to a CuddleCot from the charity 4Louis.
With the help of the CuddleCot, Lizzy and David were able to spend six days with their daughter. The CuddleCot was placed discreetly in a Moses basket and Lyla-Jo rested comfortably surrounded by teddies and wrapped in a pink blanket which was embroidered with her name.
Lizzy said: “The CuddleCot gave us time with Lyla. Time to just love her as our daughter. Those six days meant everything to us.”
4Louis, based in Sunderland, helps people across the UK who have been affected by miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of a baby or child. As well as CuddleCots, the charity provides CuddleBlankets, memory boxes, and special bereavement and family rooms to allow families the opportunity to spend time with their baby or child in a peaceful and homely environment while they prepare to say goodbye.
Following their loss, Lizzy and David decided to do something to help other bereaved parents. They decided to donate a CuddleCot to Regent Funeral Services, in Saltwell, which helped to organise Lyla-Jo’s funeral.
Lizzy added: “We just wanted to do something for Lyla. We’ve given money to the 4Louis charity. A friend said he would go a year without cutting his hair or drinking alcohol, so he was sponsored quite a bit for that. And then we had a fundraising day and we put all the money together and decided that we would donate a CuddleCot for somewhere so families could spend time with their babies.”
Speaking on behalf of Natalya McLackland and David Coulson, who accepted the donation, a spokesperson for Regent Funeral Services said: “We would like to thank the family for their special donation. This will allow other families who have this heartbreak extra time with their baby or toddler.