A family who suffered the loss of a stillborn baby have raised money to buy vital new equipment for a delivery unit.
Stephen and Helen Dennis presented staff at the University Hospital of North Tees with a cuddle cot they have bought for the unit.
The cuddle cot is a specialised piece of equipment designed to keep a stillborn baby cool to allow parents to spend more time with their baby.
They are provided by the 4Louis charity which helps families who have suffered the trauma of a stillbirth or neonatal death.
And for Helen and Stephen, the memories of losing one of their twins during labour are still very raw.
Helen gave birth to Sophie, who is now 24 weeks old, but the second twin Lucie was stillborn.
Stephen, also dad to eight-year-old Aimee who lives with his family in Billingham, said: “I was travelling home from working offshore when I was told – it was devastating and to be honest I still haven’t come to terms with it.
“We wanted to do something to help other parents and thank the unit for everything they did in caring for my family.”
Angela and Tinny Bennett also donated a cuddle cot to the unit. They received the devastating news that they had lost their son Cameron after his heart stopped beating at 24 weeks of pregnancy.
The two, who have two daughters Cerys, six and Cara, three, have since set up Cameron’s Kisses as a way of raising money for the delivery suite.
Tinny, who lives in Peterlee, said: “During the most devastating time of our lives the staff here were very supportive and helped us through it.
“Angela and I wanted to do everything we could to raise money for the ward and have held a number of fundraising music nights.
“We want to help other people who are in the same situation we were in. The cuddle cots will allow parents to spend longer with their baby which can be very important.”
Ward matron Judith Lambert said: “I would like to thank both families for these kind donations – these cuddle cots will prove invaluable to the work we do in the unit.”
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