Niceville mom receives gift of time with stillborn son. Now, she helps others get it too.

November 29, 2022

Kristyn Szala knows time is a gift. It is one the Niceville, Florida, mother received after her unborn son, Asher, was given a life-limiting diagnosis. Her neighbor led a fundraiser to purchase a CuddleCot for the Szala family.

While Szala delivered Asher stillborn August 3, 2018, at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola, their family was able to spend two-and-a-half days with him thanks to the CuddleCot. Since then, Szala donated their original CuddleCot to the hospital where she delivered and made it her mission to raise money and purchase CuddleCots for all area hospitals.

“It’s almost impossible for me to put into words, and I think that’s why I’m so passionate about it,” Szala said. “My heart really needed that time with him. No time is ever going to be enough time, but just having that option is. I have two-and-a-half days now of memories and moments and just time we spent together as a family.

Having that time because of the CuddleCot, my mom was able to fly in; my mom was able to hold him,” she said between tears. “I’m sorry, I’m emotional about it. My best friend flew in. And because of the CuddleCot, she was able to meet him. All of those things couldn’t have happened without it.”

Read the full article here.

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