Emma Perry, right, and Cheryl Burtwell, in the new unit.
A CHILDREN’S charity on the Isle of Wight has donated a mobile bedroom unit to St Mary’s Hospital, Newport, to allow parents with critically ill babies to be near their youngsters.
The Layla’s Trust charity has donated the mobile bedroom to the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), which can be used by parents when it is appropriate or necessary.
The mobile unit cost around £1,000 and was paid for out of trust funds. It includes a sofa that folds into a bed at night and storage facilities. The trust also bought two storage cupboards for the other two bedrooms at the unit.
Layla’s Trust was founded by Emma Perry and Colman Cotter, of Bellevue Road, Cowes, in memory of their daughter, Layla Mae Cotter, who died in February last year.
She had been diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called Gaucher Disease type 2 and spent most of her short life at the hospital. She died there, aged just 70 days.
Last week, the County Press reported Colman had taken part in a gruelling two-week cycle ride from John O’Groats to the Isle of Wight along with family friend Louise Carrington and raised around £4,000 for the trust.
Emma said: "I look back on the time we had with Layla and can’t emphasise enough the importance of every minute you have with your baby when you know the time you have with one another is limited.
"We hope this mobile bedroom unit will make a difference to another family who may have to face the same tragic prospect of losing their baby."
Cheryl Burtwell, from the NICU, said: "All the parents who have used the bedroom have indicated how grateful they have been for having the resource to hand."
Reporter: davidn@iwcpmail.co.uk