Kind donations to help families after the loss of a baby

Memory bears and crocheted hats and blankets have been donated to Medway Maritime Hospital to help bring comfort to families following the loss of a baby.

Kimberley and Nicholas Miles gifted 15 bears, 12 crocheted hats and three crocheted blankets to the Maternity Bereavement Team in memory of their son Rupert who was born at 20 weeks gestation on the 23 March 2023.

The memory bears were bought from the charity Making Miracles thanks to funds raised by friends and family donating to a JustGiving page that the couple set up in memory of Rupert.

Kimberley and Nicholas Miles with the 15 bears, 12 crocheted hats and three crocheted blankets they gifted to the Maternity Bereavement Team in memory of their son Rupert who was born at 20 weeks gestation on the 23 March 2023.

Mrs Miles, 32, from Teynham, said: “The bears are really special because they have a zip on the back for you to put any memories or your baby’s ashes inside.

“I was given my own Memory Bear by our bereavement specialist midwife Danielle Burnett after we sadly lost Rupert. When I had to say goodbye to Rupert in the hospital I was left with aching arms but having the bear to cuddle really helped. It now holds his ashes and it’s nice to have something to hold and remember him.

“Danielle was amazing and did everything to help us make memories with our little boy and all the midwives I saw during my stay in hospital were lovely and offered a lot of comfort and support to both me and my husband.

“When Rupert’s first birthday was approaching I learnt to crochet so I decided to make hats and blankets for the parents of other angels so they can put them on their baby’s head when they are born sleeping. Having a hat to dress Rupert in when I was in the hospital meant a lot to me and Nicholas so this is our way of giving something back. We really hope the bears and the hats and blankets will help bring some form of comfort to other bereaved families.”

Sarah Vaux, Interim Chief Nursing Officer of Medway NHS Foundation Trust which operates the Gillingham-based hospital, said: “Losing a child is devastating but we know from families like Kimberley and Nicholas that items like the ones they so kindly donated, can really help families at such a difficult time in their lives.

“From everyone at the Trust, a huge thank you to Kimberley and Nicholas for thinking of others.”

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Dr Jaroslaw Beta, who is known to colleagues and service users as Jarek, holds baby Jarek who is named after him. Mum Lauren Davies is pictured next to them.

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