The parents of a baby girl who died aged 11 weeks have donated a cooling cot to Leicester Royal Infirmary to help other grieving parents. Jasmine Poppy Patel was born prematurely in April 2022 and died 11 weeks later.
Now her parents Aimmee and Parag, have used money raised in her memory to donate an Abi Cooling Cot to the hospital. It will allow bereaved parents to spend more time - up to two or three days - saying goodbye, keeping the infant at a lower temperature.
Jasmine was born at just under 32 weeks gestation, which meant her short life was spent undergoing constant care in the infirmary's neonatal intensive care unit. She passed away in July 2022 due to sepsis and since then the couple have raised about £7,500 for good causes, including child bereavement charity Abigail's Footsteps, which supported them.
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Aimee said, “Jasmine was such a strong little girl and fought her way through the incredibly tough neonatal intensive care unit journey before becoming critically poorly from sepsis. I want to thank Abgail's Footsteps for the support we received from the charity and especially our counsellor Naomi.
"Abigail’s Footsteps is a true example of a fantastic charity. I can’t put into words how proud and thankful we are for the cooling cot made in honour and memory of our darling daughter Jasmine. I hope this brings peace, love and precious time to many more families.”
In a message to Jasmine, Aimmee and Parag said: "The moment we became your parents, Jasmine, you gave us strength and changed our world forever. We are forever proud of you.
"You continue to bring such positive love and joy to so many lives. You have given us the strength to get through this first year without you. You are always in our heart.”
Helen Pegg, deputy sister on the neonatal intensive care unit at Leicester Royal Infirmary thanked the couple for the cot. She said: “This cot will allow parents to spend more time with their baby after their passing and we are very grateful to receive it.”
Abigail's Footsteps was founded in 2010 by David and Jo Ward in memory of their daughter Abigail, who was stillborn. They provide Abi Cooling Cots for hospitals around the country, as well as counselling and other services.
David Ward, who is the chief executive of Abigail’s Footsteps, said: “When we had our daughter Abigail, we only had two or three hours with her. Having to say goodbye so soon was heartbreaking and we knew we had to do something to support other grieving parents.
"The Abi Cooling Cot that we developed with The Bond Group allows people to have two or three days with their baby if they wish. Abigail’s Footsteps is committed to providing an Abi Cooling Cot to every hospitals in the UK.
"Each special cot costs £2,800 and thanks to the generosity of those who fundraise for us we have been able to donate over 140 cots to hospitals across the UK.”
To find out more about Abigail’s Footsteps visit www.abigailsfootsteps.co.uk and to discuss how you could help fundraise for an Abi Cooling Cot please contact faye.hill@abigailsfootsteps.co.uk
