Nicole Jones

On 1 June 2023 our son, Maxwell David Jones was born sleeping at 33 weeks. With a full head of hair and perfect nose he was his own person but looked so much like his big sister Madeline.

After the birth of Max we spent the next 5 days cuddling him and telling him how much we love him. During this time we had access to a cuddle cot that allowed us to spend those precious days with him. Without this, our short 5 days would have been even shorter.

A cuddle cot is an invaluable support resource for bereaved parents. It is a cooling system that has been designed to fit within a small cot and lies beneath their baby. It enables families to say hello and keep them close as they shower them with love and create those special memories they will cherish forever. Spending as much uninterrupted time as they need without the worry or distress to keep handing their baby back to hospital staff, is a gift for families before saying their final goodbye (Bears of Hope, 2024).

We were also given a bear of hope named Melody Rose Weston who sits proudly in our living room. I admire her often. She reminds me that we are not alone. 

In honour of what would have been our sons first birthday I hope to raise enough money to provide a cuddle cot to where it is needed. Max's initial cuddle cot failed on our 3rd day with him. While we were extremely lucky to have another cuddle cot available to us, it highlights the importance of hospitals needing more available to them.

This fundraiser is to also celebrate and honour not only our son but the mothers, fathers and families that have suffered unimaginable and heartbreaking losses. 

Bears of Hope provides counselling, support groups, grief workshops, parent support weekends, community events and crucial resources to help families navigate this heartbreaking time. In Australia, one in four pregnancies end in loss. As many as 100,000 new families may need support each year.

Your support of any amount is gratefully appreciated to help keep their services fee-free and together we can make that difference for families in need.