Erin Sowerby Greene and Cameron von Poser with their daughter Briar Mica von Poser, who was born still on Oct. 20, 2022. (submitted)

By Jordan Davidson

hope out of tragedy

From heartbreak to hope, $35k raised for cuddle cots at Island hospitals

May 20, 2023 | 6:24 AM

NANAIMO — A local family who experienced a terrible tragedy last year has turned their experience into a positive fundraising effort to help others in the same situation.

Last October, Erin Sowerby Greene’s daughter Briar was born still due to a pregnancy-related liver disorder diagnosed two weeks prior.

Following the heartbreaking event, Sowerby Greene and her husband Cameron von Poser learned about cooling bassinets known as cuddle cots, which allow parents to spend more time with their child in the event of a stillbirth.

A cuddle cot was not available at the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital for Briar, and her parents wanted to change that for future grieving parents.

Since then, they have managed to raise over $35,000 to bring cuddle cots into hospitals in Nanaimo, Courtenay, Duncan, Port Alberni, and Salt Spring Island.

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Manager of child, youth and family care at NRGH Trina Knight said they’ve had a cuddle cot in Nanaimo for a few weeks now, and thankfully haven’t had to use it yet.

She said she and her staff are incredibly grateful.

“Erin and Cameron, their support has been huge. They’ve just been amazing and to have something positive come out of it is huge, and they’ve helped the entire island.”

She said these cuddle cots are important for them as well, as stillborn births also have lasting impacts on hospital staff.

“It’s really important for staff because these cases are really hard for them, so being able to really focus on the parents and the grieving process and supporting them.”

Knight told NanaimoNewsNOW since parents of a stillborn are unable to take their babies home, the time they’re able to spend together in the hospital is incredibly important, and cuddle cots give those grieving parents more precious time.

“Those memories last a lifetime, and it’s something that people take with them right until the end of their life when they’ve had a loss like that. It’s a very sad time, so anything that we can do to ease their suffering and help make that time more precious is life-changing.”

Sowerby Greene said they are currently working on a bursary in Briar’s name to send a child to pony camp each year, and they would be happy to continue fundraising for cuddle cots if the need still exists.

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jordan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @JordanDHeyNow