these amazing Dunedin people , including my NRG group . It ’ s an amazing community here ; it really is .”
The “ togetherness ” is what she finds most rewarding with her NRG group .
“ It ’ s the connectedness – it helps when you ’ re working toward something to be connected with people , to have those relationships . At NRG , we all work in and muster together and support one another in whatever any of us are going through . It ’ s that sense of belonging , that sense of community , that sense of belief .
“ I do a lot of charity work – I ’ m a big believer in giving . It ’ s an important part of what feeds my soul , and an important part of what ’ s helped me through the past couple of years .
“ Helping others feed my soul . Connectedness is so important to me – really connecting with people and paying it forward .
I ’ ve been overwhelmed by the love and support we ’ ve been given , and I believe it ’ s my job to do the same , and pay it forward .”
“ I ’ ve been overwhelmed by the love and support we ’ ve been given , and I believe it ’ s my job to do the same , and pay it forward .
“ I think I ’ ve always had that , but it ’ s been magnified since we lost Adisyn .”
It wasn ’ t long into her membership of NRG , and her fellow members banded beside her to start some very important fundraising . In those first weeks after arriving south from Wellington , in amongst her research into grief and the experiences of others who ’ d lost babies , Emmerson had first come across CuddleCots .
“ It helps to connect when you can read other people ’ s stories . And I started to read about CuddleCots – I just thought : I ’ m going to do that ; I ’ m not sure how yet , but I ’ m going to do that .”
While she and Ben had had but a day at home with Adisyn before she needed to be covered , this technology allowed parents and other loved ones up to nine days .
“ They are amazing pieces of equipment ,” Emmerson says .
“ It ’ s the memories that can be created in that extra time . And it allows parents to parent – they can even bath their baby .”
The movement to bring CuddleCots into New Zealand has really only been picking up pace in the past two years . Like Emmerson and Ben , there are bereaved parents in centres around the country doing what they can to give other Mums and Dads what they didn ’ t have : more time with their babies .
The devices come with cooling pads , which are connected to a small generator by a hose . The units are specially designed to fit unobtrusively under the baby , and operate quietly .
Emmerson , Ben and Dunedin NRG club have run a series of fundraisers , including a highly-successful pop-up op shop and movie fundraiser . In all , around $ 18,000 was needed to cover the CuddleCots ’ cost , including spare parts , and bassinettes .
“ The bassinettes are beautiful – on stands , with hoods , beautiful linen … all the trimmings . I decided these babies are having the works – the cradles I ’ ve ordered rock and everything .”
The Rotary Foundation has come forward with a $ 1800 donation , which has made securing all-important spare parts for the CuddleCots possible .
Page 40 | In Gear - Rotary in southern New Zealand - District 9980 | www . rotarydistrict9980 . org