Daughter’s experience inspires a bereavement suite at hospital

An appeal has been launched to fund a special bereavement suite on the central delivery suite at Scunthorpe hospital for parents who lose a baby.

 The idea for the development followed the death of Lily Blow who was born prematurely in the hospital back in December 2013 but sadly died just eight hours after coming into the world.

 Her devastated parents Melanie and Rick Blow had the idea for the bereavement suite following their experience. Melanie said: “After Lily died I was taken to the same room I had delivered in, and remained in that room. The fact that we could hear other babies just intensified the pain Rick and I were feeling.”

 “We felt there needed to be a separate area where women and their family can be together privately if they suffer the loss of their baby.”

 Melanie’s parents Malcolm and Isobel Beacock have kick-started the appeal with a donation of £535 which they raised from their joint 60th birthday party. The big-hearted duo asked for donations instead of birthday presents.

 Maternity operational matron Karen Cross said: “We want to work together with Melanie and her family to make this a reality. The bereavement suite will provide a private and appropriate space for those families to spend precious time together, to start the journey of dealing with their sad loss.”

 The Health Tree Foundation is the official charity for Scunthorpe General Hospital. Victoria Winterton, partnerships manager for the charity, said: "We work closely with the fantastic hospital teams and families across the trust to help make wishes such as Melanie's happen. No one can ever imagine the pain families go through when a child dies unless they have been through it themselves. We hope through the generosity of local people we can help make this wish come true.” 

 Melanie added: “I believe Lily came into the world for a reason and that is why I want to help other families that experience the pain I did on the day I lost my little girl. Please contact the Health Tree Foundation and help make our wish come true."

 To donate to the appeal click here.