Donation of CuddleCot™ to Adena Health brings comfort and time to grieving families

By Jason Gilham
Director
Integrated Communications
Adena Health

CHILLICOTHE – Adena Health has expanded its support for grieving families by adding a second CuddleCot™ to its Women and Children’s department, thanks to a generous donation from three organizations dedicated to helping parents and families navigate the pain of infant loss.

A CuddleCot™ is a specially designed bassinet equipped with a cooling system that allows families more uninterrupted time with their baby following a stillbirth. These precious hours offer the opportunity to grieve, bond, and say goodbye at their own pace, providing support that can be vital to healing.

The new CuddleCot™ was donated through the combined efforts of Ashlie’s Embrace, Miles’ Mission, and the Harbour Knoxx Peabody Foundation. Founders of each organization—Erin Maroon, Michael Bullock, and Elizabeth Peabody—visited Adena Regional Medical Center to personally present the donation on Tuesday. Each has experienced the heartbreak of stillbirth firsthand: two as mothers and one as a grandparent.

“I was able to do everything with my child over six days,” says Peabody. “I read to him, sang to him, told him stories, introduced him to my family, and even baptized him. Without that time, I don’t know how I would be today. My hope is that another mother will now have those same hours, or days, with her baby.”

This gift marks the second CuddleCot™ now available at Adena, expanding the hospital’s ability to serve multiple families in need of this service.

“The CuddleCot™ provides the gift of time,” said Jamie Arledge, director of nursing–specialty services. “It allows families to keep their infant close for as long as they need. There’s no rush. They can grieve at their own pace, which is so important in the healing process.”

Adena Women and Children’s also offers several other resources to support families following a stillbirth. This includes access to a bereavement-certified social worker who remains with families from admission through recovery and after discharge, as well as connections to additional grief and counseling services in the community.

In addition to the CuddleCot™, several bereavement boxes were also donated. These thoughtfully curated kits contain keepsakes such as blankets, pillows, a stuffed bear, and other meaningful items that offer comfort to grieving parents and other family members to help preserve their child’s memory.

With the addition of a second CuddleCot™, Adena is better equipped to support families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. The donation reflects a shared commitment between the health system and the community to ensure that no family facing infant loss has to go through it alone.

To learn more about Adena Women and Children’s services, visit Adena.org/women.