Lauren Seabrook, 17, is taking her family's traumatic experience and turning it into a way for grieving parents to get closure.
In 2003, Lauren's parents Meredith and Jeff Seabrook experienced one of the most horrific events that a couple can go through when they were forced to say goodbye to their son Mason less than 24 hours after birth.
It was such a shocking time,SA国际影视传媒� said Meredith. SA国际影视传媒淪aying goodbye in that moment is horrific, you can never prepare yourself for that process... it was traumatic.SA国际影视传媒�
Lauren was three-years-old at the time and thought she would be welcoming a little brother into the world, she said she remembers being devastated when Mason never came home.
Mason died after birth nearly 15 years ago, the experience triggered Lauren to donate a cuddle cot to Stanton Hospital with the hopes families of stillborn children can grieve longer.
Michael Hugall/NNSL photo
Fifteen years later, the Sir John Franklin High School senior is trying to help other families through the trauma of infant mortality by donating a cuddle cot to the new Stanton Territorial Hospital.
SA国际影视传媒淚 hope it helps the grieving process and it creates memories for families,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭hey need to know this resource is available.SA国际影视传媒�
A cuddle cot is a refrigerated bassinet that keeps stillborn babies cool, slowing the changes that happen after death so their family's can spend more time with them. Lauren made her donation in January and the Stanton Territorial Hospital Foundation finished the process of deeming it operational for use last month.
SA国际影视传媒淚 can't take away the loss of a child nor can I take away the pain that comes with it but I can try to give more time to families to create memories and say goodbye,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淪aying goodbye is a big part of the grieving process.SA国际影视传媒�
The donation was part of a citizenship project for her social studies class. After months of planning and fundraising with the help of her teacher Landon Kowalzik, she was able to raise over $3,000 to purchase the cuddle cot from a British manufacturer.
Kowalzik said he is proud of his student.
SA国际影视传媒淭o me it really exemplified the purpose of these citizenship projects, I always want my students to find projects that are meaningful to them on a personal level,SA国际影视传媒� said Kowalzik. SA国际影视传媒淎t the end of the day, your heart goes out to the family but it makes you feel proud of your students for making a difference.SA国际影视传媒�
After word got out about her generous actions, Lauren began receiving accolades from a number of citizens. She said she's been blown away by the support.
SA国际影视传媒淧eople from all over the territory were sending me encouraging messages and telling me their own personal stories,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淧eople would tell me how they wished (the cuddle cot) was around during their situation because they felt they didn't get to spend enough time with their child.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚 want people to be aware that this issue of infant mortality is a lot more common than one would think in the territory and you never know who it affects,SA国际影视传媒� she continued.
According to the NWT Bureau of Statistics, in 2009 the territory's infant mortality rate was almost triple the national average at 15.5 deaths per 1,000 births.
The most recent data from 2014 still puts the NWT above the national average but significantly lower at 6 deaths per 1,000 births.
The cuddle cot donated by Lauren is marked with plaque which reads, SA国际影视传媒淚n Loving Memory of Mason Seabrook.SA国际影视传媒�
Every year Lauren, Meredith, Jeff and their son Brady go through pictures and sentimental cards on Mason's birthday.
SA国际影视传媒淎fter all he is a part of our family,SA国际影视传媒� said Meredith.
