Naples couple donates caring cradle to NCH to help families after stillbirth

On Christmas Eve 2023, Nate and Jessie Maurer arrived at NCH in Naples, ready to meet their first child, but instead faced the devastating loss of their son, Matthew, who was stillborn on Christmas Day. "I was in active labor when we found out that he no longer had a heartbeat," Jessie Maurer said. Matthew was born perfect in every way, except he never took his first breath. "This was my first time looking at our offspring together, and how he looked a little bit like his dad, but he had my nose and your dark hair, but my curls, and it was just it. I mean, how every mother feels when they hold their baby for the first time," Jessie said. Stillbirth is more common than many realize. "One out of 160 births are stillborn in the United States. So this is something that a lot of families go through," said Paula DiGrigoli, senior director of the Nicklaus Children's Hospital partnership at NCH. The Maurers had just ten hours with Matthew, a brief moment to create memories. "We kept him for as long as we could. You know, we were limited with who was holding him and with who got to spend time with him," Nate Maurer said. Knowing other families would face similar heartbreak, the Maurers donated a caring cradle to the hospital. The cooling bassinet slows the post-death process, giving families more time to say goodbye. "Days, it could give you days," Jessie said. The cradle, which can be used for up to 72 hours, uses a gel mat that chills when plugged into the wall. The mat can also swaddle the infant, allowing parents to hold their child until they are ready to let go. Matthew’s legacy lives on in every family the cradle will serve, offering them precious time to say hello and goodbye. The caring cradle comes in lavender, signaling to caregivers and staff that there has been a loss in the room.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.