King's Lynn hospital's new Butterfly Suite opens
There were a few tears and some emotional moments but also many happy smiles to see the long-awaited Butterfly Suite opened at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital on Wednesday.
It provides a home from home space for parents, who have experienced the heartbreak of losing a baby, to be able to say goodbye to their little ones in a quiet and private setting.
An appeal for a maternity bereavement suite was launched by the Hospitals Trust in 2020 and was chosen by the Lynn News as our Charity of The Year.
A total of £250,000 was raised by the hospital charity, the community and our readers and this week the facility was officially opened.
Among those who watched a plaque unveiled were parents who have suffered the loss of a baby and have played a big part in fundraising, campaigning and in the final design of the suite.
They had had to say goodbye in the main maternity department within earshot of babies crying and new parents celebrating good news with their families.
On Wednesday, they shared their thoughts on how they would have loved the chance to use a facility like The Butterfly Suite.
Ashley Gamble, a father who lost baby daughter Summer, said: “This room is built with the love and power of each of those babies and bereaved parents pushing to make a difference for future families who find themselves in the sad situation of needing this room. It is not a luxury, it is a necessity,” he said.
Caroline Shaw, chief executive at QEH, said: “I am really pleased that The Butterfly Suite enables us to provide a dedicated and safe environment for bereaved parents and their families who have experienced the unimaginable loss of their baby either during pregnancy or shortly after birth.”
She said it was hoped the space would allow families to spend time with their baby and make precious memories.
She thanked the families, the donors, the community as a whole – who also chose the name for the suite – and the Lynn News for their combined support and generosity.
“Thank you to you all from the bottom of my heart,” she said.
Graham Ward, acting chair at QEH, added his thanks describing it as a “hugely important facility for the Trust, patients and families.”
Amanda Price-Davey, head of midwifery, said: “Losing a baby at any stage of pregnancy can be a traumatic experience so to be able to offer families the use of The Butterfly Suite is vitally important. They can make precious memories and begin to grieve their loss.”
Ashley and Stephanie Gibbs unveiled the plaque which reads: “There is no foot too small that it cannot leave an imprint in this world.”
Stephanie, who lost her baby son Max in 2019, was one of mums who had input into the design of the suite and raised £2,000 towards it.
“Until you have been through this you don't know what you need so we were able to contribute our thoughts and make suggestions,” said Stephanie, now mother to little Isla.
Naomi Lowry and husband Will's baby Ivy was stillborn in 2019. Naomi is a professional artist and she created a bespoke painting which has been re-created on one of the walls of the suite and painted butterflies on another of the walls.
It was, she said, her way of doing something special and helping others who might face the same situation in the future.
Among those who attended the unveiling were Ellie Anderson and daughters Robyn, nine, and Polly, 10.
The girls had raised £1,145 through a sponsored scooter ride in which they covered 30 miles in eight days, in February 2021, including riding through the snow.
The suite has a main room with a bed which can be folded away, a small side room for a cot and a kitchenette.
There are plans that any further funds will be used to create a memorial Butterfly Garden.
