Bereavement room affords grieving parents privacy to say goodbye

The Mount Isa Hospital has a dedicated bereavement room for parents who are grieving the loss of a baby following the completion of a project led by the Two Little Hummingbirds Foundation supported by Glencore.

The newly refurbished bereavement room with double bed, rocking chair, cuddle cot, baby bath, new cabinets and décor is a homely and safe space for families to grieve.

The room has been years in the making, with local Mount Isa Foundation Two Little Hummingbirds fundraising the $25,000 for the refurbishment, while Glencore provided $9,500 for a two-person hospital bed for the room.

The Two Little Hummingbirds Foundation was set up by Mount Isa local, Jacque Gillic, after the loss of her daughter Amelia seven years ago, who was born at 21 weeks gestation.

“I thought something needed to be done for families to grieve properly,” says Jacque.

At the time Jacque lost her baby, there was no privacy and very little in the way of resources to help mums and families.

“We were in a room close to other mums and their babies. We were disturbed by babies crying and other families celebrating which makes it harder to grieve,” Jacque says.

It prompted her to dedicate the next seven years to fundraising for a space where families can grieve in privacy.

“It’s a safe place to take photos, to rock with your baby, and to keep the baby in the room with you as long as possible until you’re able to muster up the courage to let go and go home,” says Jacque.

“I hope it helps families now and for a very long time.”

General Manager for Health, Safety, Environment and Community, Maryann Wipaki, says through sponsorships like this Glencore can make a real difference in the lives of people who live in our community.

“Through our contribution, we hope the project can provide support, safety and time for families to grieve, and provide a much-needed service to families within Mount Isa and from remote communities,” says Maryann.