Mum who set up fundraiser after her baby daughter died donates items to Royal Preston Hospital

Sarah and her son, Oliver brought the items to Royal Preston Hospital. Pic: LTHTR

A mum who set up a fundraiser after losing her baby daughter has donated items for children and babies to Royal Preston Hospital’s emergency department.

Maggie’s Stillbirth Legacy was set up by Sarah Bernasconi-Parsons from Blackburn, after she lost her daughter, Maggie, in June 2015 when she was born at Burnley General Hospital.

She decided to launch Maggie’s Stillbirth Legacy to help other parents who suffer a stillbirth or have a baby or toddler who passes away.

Maggie’s mum Sarah, and brother, Oliver, Pride of Britain award winners, paid a visit to Preston Hospital in May.

They brought over 40 bear hug bags which are early loss keepsakes, 20 memory boxes for babies and children, 150 adult loss keepsakes, a cuddle cot and a Moses basket, totalling £3,670.

Sarah said: “I’m really happy to be able to support Royal Preston Hospital and parents who have lost a child. I work with eight other hospitals across the UK, so RPH is the ninth. If any good can come out of awful circumstances, it all helps.

“I’ll come back in and show how to use the equipment properly, to maintain and clean it, and give some care on bereavement as well, around my experience.

“I run a group every month for bereaved parents, and it helps to explain what parents want in that situation.”

Sarah plans to return to Preston to provide training to staff on bereavement care and on how to use and maintain the cuddle cot, which allows the parents to spend time with their babies and say goodbye on their terms.

Melanie Marsden, Emergency Department Sister/Charge Nurse said: “I’m so happy we’ve connected with Sarah, she’s an absolute diamond.

“Her response to me getting in touch has been amazing, and I’d just like to say thank you again to her, and for the remarkable work she does for bereaved families, it really does make a difference.”

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