News

Heartfelt gift to Mildura Base Hospital

Tue, 11 Nov 2014 13:00:00

Mildura Base Hospital has received a donation that will help provide precious memories for families of stillborn babies or those suffering the loss of a baby or young child.

The Heartfelt organisation is a national network of photographers who volunteer their services to provide individual or family portrait sessions for families suffering a loss.  The organisation donated a digital camera to the hospital’s Midwifery Ward after discussions with MBH midwife Jess Corin earlier this year. 
“Losing a child is certainly the most difficult of experiences for families and we do everything we can to provide support,” said Mildura Base Hospital Maternity Nurse Unit Manager Rachel McDowall.
“Photographs of their baby or child are often the most precious possessions for families who have lost a baby or suffered a stillbirth,” Rachel said.
Angela Stewart and Kristy Mulvihill are two Mildura photographers who volunteer to provide photography services for Heartfelt when bereaved families at the hospital require them.
“We have both been long-term volunteers for Heartfelt because we feel it is one way we can help make the worst possible situation a parent can face just that little bit more bearable,” Angela said.
“But the camera from Heartfelt is really welcome for those occasions where neither Kristy nor I can be here, or when grieving families would prefer the photos are taken by hospital staff."
Heartfelt provides services to families for stillbirths (from approximately 22 weeks), critically premature and ill infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Units, as well as older babies and children up to 16 with serious and terminal illnesses.
The families are given a full set of prints and a disk of high-resolution images. There is no charge for the service.  Further information and contact details are available at the Heartfelt website www.heartfelt.org.au