It’s impossible to comprehend being pregnant and then losing your child, unless you’ve lived it. The Moore family has experienced it twice. So when the ten-year anniversary of their daughter’s death was coming up last fall, they wanted to do something significant to mark this special date and to help others who may experience the same heartbreak. Local surgeon, Dr. E. Charles Moore, Jr. and his wife, Lisa M. Domico, a professor of Toxicology at East Carolina University, made the gift of a CuddleCot to the Family Birth Center at UNC Lenoir Health Care.

The CuddleCot, a small, refrigerated bassinette, remains in the room so that parents and family may spend more time with their child and come to grips with their loss. Having the gift of time allows parents to do what is most meaningful for them, and to do so without feeling rushed and unsure. “When parents have control over the timing, gradually saying their hellos and goodbyes, it aids in the bereavement process,” says Kay Turner, Director of Women’s Services at UNC Lenoir. Spending time with the baby’s body can offer a number of therapeutic benefits over the course of several hours or even days. It eases the transition from “We’re having a baby,” to “our baby died.”

This story does have a happy ending. Today, Dr. Moore, a physician at UNC Physician’s Network, and Ms. Domico have three beautiful, healthy daughters. Shown above at the “blessing” of the CuddleCot with their parents: Zoe (between parents), Olive, and Charleigh (being held).