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

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.

Posted in

Teeside couple donate a CuddleCot to hospital in memory of their baby boy

A couple from Teesside donated a CuddleCot to North Tees hospital after losing their baby son was born sleeping. Helen and Chris Snow, from Thornaby, unexpectedly lost their son, Teddie, in May 2021 in James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough. Born at 37 weeks the couple discovered Teddie sadly did not have a heartbeat. Thanks to a CuddleCot…

Mother honours lost baby with 5 years of support for grieving families

CANADA. Katie Pereira-Prebble and Zach Prebble’s first son, Lincoln, died just before he was born in 2018. Since then, Lincoln’s parents have grieved, and also dedicated themselves to supporting other families affected by infant and pregnancy loss. This year, the day after Lincoln’s fifth birthday, they will be raising awareness around infant and pregnancy loss at…

Grieving couple donate CuddleCot to hospital in memory of their baby son to mark 2nd anniversary of his death

A grieving couple have donated a cuddle cot in their baby son’s memory to mark the second anniversary of his death and provide some comfort to families experiencing similar heartbreak. Emma Hughes and Dwayne Webley’s son Jaziah Webley was stillborn at Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital on August 22, 2021. The couple were told that Jaziah…

Thornaby mum donates CuddleCot after ‘perfect’ baby girl died from rare condition

A mum who lost her baby girl to a rare condition has donated a CuddleCot to the hospital that cared for her daughter. Nancy Jo Anne Rogers defied doctors’ expectations time and time again and lived a “perfect” yet heartbreakingly short life. Lisa Rogers had to say goodbye to her nine-month-old daughter after she was…

Bereavement Consultant, Steph Wild, features on the MOHA Network podcast

Mothers of Held Angels (MOHA), based in the USA, is on a mission to create a voice for grieving mothers who have held their baby after their passing, to provide immediate day-of-loss resources and ongoing bereavement support for all family members, and to raise public awareness about the pain and heartbreak surrounding stillbirth and neonatal…

Lincoln City Hospital receives CuddleCot donation from Warner Grange and Clackamas Pomona Grange

Members of the Warner Grange and Clackamas Pomona Grange donated a CuddleCot to the Family Birthing Center at Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital in Lincoln City, Oregon. The gift was gratefully accepted by the unit’s nurse manager, Jen Pierce, BSN, RN. “I am in awe of this generous, compassionate donation,” Pierce said. “As a nurse who…

Mum whose son died during labour runs a charity foundation in his name

Sharon and her husband Jas founded the Luca Foundation in 2018 to help raise money for the NHS to have CuddleCots since losing their son Luca in 2012. It’s the devastation that no parents want to experience. Sharon Luca-Chatha and her husband Jas, from Coventry, lost their son Luca in 2012 and had to endure a…

What is a CuddleBlanket?

In times of grief and loss, finding solace and comfort is paramount. We understand the emotional journey families face during such difficult moments, which is why we created the CuddleBlanket™. This innovative and compassionate offering aims to provide solace and a lasting connection for grieving families. The CuddleBlanket™ is a cooling blanket for those who…

CuddleCot to help Melbourne families through a traumatic time

AUSTRALIA. BASS Coast Health (BCH) and Gippsland Southern Health Service were fortunate to receive a CuddleCot from Melbourne family Kit and Blake Norrish, who raised funds to enable the charity Bears of Hope to supply CuddleCots to hospitals. Kit and Blake lost their first baby Arlo on 2 January 2023, but were able to spend…

CuddleCot donation will serve as a light to grieving parents

The Birth Place at Iredell Memorial Hospital in North Carolina has recently received a donation of a CuddleCot to support mothers grieving the loss of a child at birth. Brooke and Corey Schneckloth, who donated the CuddleCot, have felt this pain firsthand and wish to help others who have similar experiences. “Our son, Theo, was…