Following the stillborn birth of her daughter in 2017, Lesley Patry-Kerford attended a Butterfly Run in Ottawa. This event also inspired her give back to her local community and to raise awareness of the supports available for families who experience the loss of a baby.
While researching the various supports, Lesley stumbled on a medical device called a “cuddle cot.” Cuddle cots are widely used in many clinical settings and provides an in-room cooling system that allows families the opportunity for more time with their baby.
“Any family who suffers a loss wishes for just a few more minutes; time that they will never be able to have again,” says Patry-Kerford. “The cuddle cot provides families with this precious gift of time.”
When she saw this device, and the impact that it had on other families who had just lost a child, she knew that she wanted to raise funds that would equip Brockville General Hospital with this invaluable support resource.
Joan Simon, Executive Director of the Brockville & District Hospital Foundation (BDHF) stated, “Lesley’s commitment to helping other parents begin their healing process is to be commended. Organizing a fundraiser to purchase the cuddle cot clearly demonstrates her compassion for others within our community.”
In October of 2019, Patry-Kerford and her organizing team also held a Wave of Light event that raised funds for memory boxes for BGH’s Women & Children’s Program. Plans are also in the works for a Butterfly Run in October 2020.