October is infant loss awareness month. One in every 160 births result in a stillbirth in the United States. Local couple Jonathan and Shanna Motl experienced this devastating loss in 2016 when their son Gordon was stillborn. In memory of Gordon, the couple has turned their sorrow and pain into a way to comfort others. The Motls connected with the Chandler & Paisley Skies Foundation to raise funds for a Cuddle Cot for Coffeyville Regional Medical Center.
The Chandler & Paisley Skies Foundation, started by Michelle and Dusty Hurst to honor the twins that they lost, presented the CRMC Women’s Health Unit with a Cuddle Cot on November 22, 2021. This cooling device allows bereaved parents more time with their infants who have passed away. To provide the Cuddle Cot to CRMC the Motl family started a grassroots fundraising campaign to raise $4,000 via Facebook. In ten days, they had accomplished their goal due to the generosity of friends and family.
“We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of the Motl family to those who suffer this type of tremendous loss,” said President & CEO Brian Lawrence. “The Hurst and the Motl families have both taken tragedies in their own lives and found ways to redeem it for others. There is no greater gift than to find ways to serve others through our own loss.”
The Chandler & Paisley Skies Foundation was established in 2017 in memory of the Hurst’s children, Chandler and Paisley. Their foundation was established to place Cuddle Cots in hospitals and offer a small comfort to families experiencing this tremendous loss. These cooling devices can have a significant impact on grieving families, whether it is the allowance of more time for family members to meet the infant who has passed away, or simply more time for the mother and father to spend with their child.
“Having been through the loss of our own children, we knew we wanted to find a way to keep their memory alive while doing good for others,” said the Hurst Family. “We recognize there is no way to make the grieving process any easier for those going through it, but we also know there are small things that can bring little pieces of comfort to families impacted by this loss.”