Families who experience the tragedy of stillbirth will be able to spend precious time with their baby at the Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton thanks to the donation of an ‘Abi Cooling cot’.
Alyssa Ely-Cook, Abigail’s Footsteps Bereavement Donation Co-Ordinator visited Princess Anne Hospital for a very special cot handover with her husband Michael and Andy Purvis from ‘Oar Mighty Mates 2C.’
Andy said “Tim and I rowed 3,200 miles across the Atlantic Ocean in 2024 to make a difference and to enable us to achieve something special. As part of our journey, we were honoured to be able to raise much needed funds for Abigail’s Footsteps and to be able to support a long overdue Abi cooling cot in memory of Rebecca Ely-Cook. We are delighted that a cot will be installed at Southampton Hospital in memory of Rebecca and to ensure her name is not forgotten.”
Alyssa and Michael said “We are deeply grateful for Andy and Tim whose extraordinary achievement has made the donation of this Abi Cooling Cot possible. Their determination, strength, and compassion will leave a lasting impact on families facing the unimaginable.
Our time with our daughter Rebecca was heartbreakingly short. We arrived at the hospital in labour at 40 weeks and 1 day, excited to welcome our second child, only to be told that no heartbeat could be found. After six hours of labour, Rebecca was born silently. We were given only a couple of hours with her—hours that remain both devastating and profoundly precious to us. It is in Rebecca’s memory, and for all families who may ever walk a similar path, that this cot has been donated. We hope it brings comfort, dignity, and the chance for treasured moments that mean more than words can ever express. We love you to the Moon and Back Rebecca”
The Abi Cooling Cot, developed by baby loss charity Abigial’s Footsteps in partnership with medical professionals and families who have experienced baby loss, allows bereaved parents precious additional time with their baby enabling them to create memories, say goodbye, and begin the grieving process in a more supported way.
Kerri Birkett Bereavement Specialist Midwife Lead, Princess Anne Hospital said “We are truly grateful to Alyssa, Michael and Andy as well as Abigail’s Footsteps for donating this cold cot, in memory of their daughter Rebecca. We are deeply honoured to support bereaved families with the greatest compassion and care during their darkest journey, and this cot will enable families to spend more precious time with their little ones.”
David Ward MBE, Co-Founder 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 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 hospital in the UK. Each special cot costs over £3,000 and thanks to the generosity of those who fundraise for us we have been able to donate over 300 cots.”
Abigail’s Footsteps has been working since 2010 to improve the bereavement care received by parents following the loss of a baby. The charity provides Abi Cooling Cots to hospitals across the UK, along with bereavement training for healthcare professionals and support for grieving families.
Alyssa said “As Bereavement Donation Coordinator for Abigail’s Footsteps I hear from many incredible families who have used one of our 300 Abi Cooling Cots, and they share just how important these cots have been for them. I am continually in awe of these families’ strength, compassion, and determination to support others despite their own heartbreak.”
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
About the Abi Cooling Cot
Donations allow Abigail’s Footsteps to distribute Abi Cooling cots to hospitals across the country. The Abi Cooling Cot keeps the baby at a cooler temperature meaning that the child can stay with their parents for longer, giving families the chance to grieve and say goodbye in their own time.
www.abigailsfootsteps.co.uk/professionals/cold-cots-for-hospitals
About Abigail’s Footsteps
Abigail’s Footsteps is a Medway based baby loss charity, founded by Jo and David Ward in memory of their daughter Abigail who was stillborn at 41 weeks in 2009.
Abigails Footsteps aims to improve the baby loss bereavement training that health care professionals and care staff receive and improve the quality of counselling and supportive information that families receive if their family suffers a stillbirth.
The charity has provided over 300 Abi Cooling Cots to hospitals and work in partnership with NHS Trusts to fund sensitively designed delivery rooms located away from maternity wards.
