Amanda Alan, mother of Hendrix Star Alan, Graylan Alan, Michelle Koons, Manager MBSH Mother Baby Unit, and Brittany Hancock RN with the CuddleCot the Alan family donated.
Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital’s Mother Baby Unit received the donation of a CuddleCot from Rocky and Amanda Alan in memory of their infant son, Hendrix Star Alan.
Rocky and Amanda were excited to meet the fifth and final addition to their family, due in July of 2020. Tragically, that April, Amanda’s doctor discovered her baby no longer had a heartbeat. At 28 weeks, she delivered their stillborn son via C-section. It was and continues to be the greatest struggle of their lives, filled with profound pain and sadness.
Although their beautiful baby boy, Hendrix Star, did not get to go home with them, he will always be a part of their family. The Alans were fortunate to have delivered Hendrix in a hospital that had been gifted a CuddleCot. While they had never heard of a Cuddle Cot before Hendrix’s birth, it was vital in giving them precious, extra time with their baby.
A CuddleCot is an in-room cooling unit the size of a small humidifier that is placed inside a bassinet or Moses basket. The device is used to help extend the time families can spend with their stillborn or infant who dies soon after birth. The unit maintains an ideal temperature for preserving baby, without making it too cold for parents. This extra time can be beneficial in the grieving process as it allows the family an opportunity to form a bond with their baby, take photos and experience having their baby at the bedside during their hospital stay.
Hendrix was delivered in the early morning of April 24th, and with the use of the CuddleCot, his family was able to stay with him until late that evening. Despite COVID-19 restrictions, Rocky and Amanda were granted the ability to have their other children visit Hendrix. They each got to meet, hold, kiss and talk to their sleeping baby brother. Amanda and Rocky spilled over their baby boy, trying to take in every second. It was quiet and it was heartbreaking, but those moments are so dear to their hearts.
In their beautiful son’s honor, Amanda and Rocky wanted to provide a CuddleCot to Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital, so that it would be available for other grieving parents. They set up a GoFundMe campaign, and with many people reaching out to provide support, they raised enough funds to purchase a CuddleCot to donate in Hendrix’s name. Amanda says, “I know that anyone who may need to use it will be as grateful as we were for the time with their baby.”