A charity which supports families through child bereavement has made its first donations to Noble’s Hospital’s maternity unit and Rebecca House children’s hospice.
Tabitha’s Trust was launched by Torie and Chris Kissack after their first daughter died at just over four hours old of a rare congenital disorder.
Their first fundraising aim is to raise just under £6,000 for four ‘cuddle cots’ - cold units that go inside a Moses basket.
It keeps the core temperature of a baby down once it has died to enable grieving families to spend more time with the child.
Ellan Vannin Fuels raised the £1,500 needed for the maternity unit’s cuddle cot while collections and events raised the money for the one at Rebecca House.
Torie said: ‘The difference that will be made through the cots for families on the island, will be enormous, enabling them to spend an extended amount of time with their children to create memories that they will treasure forever.
‘We wish we didn’t have to have them, that there was no need for them. But, sadly there is.’
EVF chose Tabitha’s Trust to accompany them at their trade stand at the Royal Manx Agricultural Show in August.
They raised £1,500 through donations from visitors and one from the company.
As well as the cuddle cots blankets, tiny clothing and keepsakes have been provided to Noble’s Hospital’s gynaecology ward.
Torie is the local representative for Little Baby & Co, a non-profit organisation that provides items made with love to all children and babies born too soon.
Tabitha’s Trust is now raising money for two cuddle cots for Liverpool Women’s Hospital, where many expectant mothers from the island go, for example if they have a high risk or multiple pregnancy.
As well as bag packing weekends, money will be raised through the Mayoral Charity Appeal.
And two runners will be stepping out for the charity next year in a half marathon and a full marathon.
The couple knew when Torie was 18 weeks pregnant that Tabitha had a severe diaphragmatic hernia - a hole in the diaphragm which allows abdominal organs to migrate into the chest, compressing the lungs and displacing the heart - and wasn’t going to survive. She was born at Liverpool Women’s Hospital in August 2012 at 35 weeks.
She said it was essential families had time to reaffirm the bond with their baby, saying the time they spent with Tabitha after she passed away was ‘magical’.