Bereaved couple donate Cuddle Cot to University Hospital Wishaw in memory of late son

A bereaved couple from Lanarkshire have donated a Cuddle Cot to their local hospital in memory of their son.

Braylon Wayt died from sudden infant death syndrome at just five weeks old. He was found unresponsive at home and his mum, Kimberley, rushed him to the Emergency Department at University Hospital Wishaw.

The medical team was unable to resuscitate the baby boy. The ordeal was made even more traumatic as both parents, David and Kimberley Wayt, are deaf and were unable to communicate until an interpreter arrived.

Kimberley said: “When Braylon died, everything happened so quickly and we felt so helpless.

“We hope this donation will make things a little easier for other families going through the same pain. It’s our way of keeping Braylon’s memory alive and helping others.”

Prior to the donation, there were no Cuddle Cots in the Emergency Department and one had to be brought from the maternity unit.

The specialised cot is a special cooling system designed to fit inside a baby’s cot or basket. It allows bereaved parents to spend more time with their baby after death, giving families the chance to say goodbye in a private and dignified way.

David and Kimberley raised funds to donate a Cuddle Cot, which displays Braylon’s name, that will be kept in the Emergency Department for any family who needs it.

David said: “Losing Braylon was the hardest thing we’ve ever faced. We wanted to do something positive in his memory and make sure other families have the time and space to say goodbye. The Cuddle Cot will help give families that precious time.”

The couple raised the majority of the funds through a charity skydive carried out by David, alongside interpreter Tracy Richardson who has supported the family for years.

Nicola Martin, senior charge nurse at University Hospital Wishaw Emergency Department, said: “We are so grateful to David and Kimberley for this incredible gift which is a lovely tribute to Braylon.

“Their generosity will make a real difference for families during the most difficult times.”