Butterfly Room vital asset to the Lourdes
YOU may not have heard of it but The Butterfly Room at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital provides a vital and much needed service for many parents throughout the north east area.
While pregnancy and birth is a joyous experience for many women, for others the journey ends tragically and unexpectedly when a baby dies before or shortly after birth.
‘ The death of a baby is an incredibly traumatic event leaving parents with overwhelming emotional needs and is one of the most painful experiences that any parent has to face,’ explains Colette McCann, Director of Midwifery at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital.
It signifies the loss of the future, of hopes and dreams and affects the entire extended family and close friends.
The great joy and expectation of the arrival of the new baby turns into sadness and despair.
Staff in Our Lady of Lourdes Maternity Unit are always deeply affected by a baby’s death and it was to this end in October 2012 they created a special room for parents to offer them some privacy and comfort at such a devastating time.
This special Bereavement Room called ‘ The Butterfly Room’ was created thanks to the assistance and generosity of staff in the maternity unit and outside sponsors.
The room created a private space for parents and families to spend some quiet time together as they grieve.
Colette McCann, Director of Midwifery explains: ‘No one is ever prepared for the loss of a baby and we hope the room will offer some small comfort to families and give them a place where it is quiet and they can spend time with their baby and loved ones while still getting support and assistance from staff,’ says Ms McCann.
The hospital staff are grateful to friends in the ‘Little Lifetime Foundation’ and ‘Féileacáin’ (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Association
of Ireland) for their unwavering support to parents and staff over many years.
Earlier this year Colette McCann was approached by Olga Smith wife of Lord Mayor Pio Smith who offered to fundraise to upgrade the room.
Olga very kindly knitted and made beautiful gifts to be raffled and Pio and Olga hosted a coffee morning in her house
They raised €2,900 for the Butterfly Room and a further €1,000 donated Louth Co Council. Plans for the work are now underway and discussions are taking place in-house on the upgrade to the room.