Bereaved couple's special cot donation
Date of release: 13 May 2024
A bereaved couple have donated a specialised cot that allows parents to spend time with their stillborn babies to New Cross Hospital’s Neonatal Unit.
Top from left, Satveer Kaur Binning, Shanghara Binning; bottom from left, Asha Rattu, Donna Tarte, Sister, and Kate Horton, Family Support Bereavement Nurse
Satveer Kaur Binning, 31,and her husband Shanghara Singh Binning, 30, lost their baby daughter Siaan Kaur Binning on 16 October, 2023.
Siaan was stillborn and the couple were able to spend two nights and three days with her thanks to the provision of a cold cot at University of Coventry Hospital.
Despite their grief, Satveer and Shanghara decided to raise money for cold cots in four other local hospitals so other people could be close to their stillborn babies.
A gofundme page they set up has so far raised more than £10,000 – allowing them to buy four of the £2,500 cots. They also plan to set up a registered charity, called the Siaan Kaur Foundation.
“The thought of parents having to rush their time with their babies hurts our hearts,” they said.
“When Siaan was born, the conversation soon turned to her funeral and sending her to the hospital morgue.
“We want to be a light in each parent’s journey who sadly have to say goodbye to their babies.”
Each cold cot will have a plaque with Siaan Kaur’s name on so she can be remembered for helping others.
Close-up of the cold cot bearing Siaan’s name
“This did not sit right with us as we had spent nine months dreaming of our first moments with our baby, her funeral not being one of them.
“While no time is enough, having access to a cold cot gives bereaved parents the opportunity to spend more time with their baby.
Kate Horton, Family Support/Bereavement Nurse at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT), said: “This donation is going to make a massive difference – it means parents can spend time with their babies after they pass away rather than having to go to the chapel of rest.
“We have one on the Neonatal Unit already but this means if the parents want to go home, they can borrow one and take it with them.”
The couple, from Ash Green in Coventry, have used the money to buy cold cots at New Cross Hospital, for Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust and Oxford University Hospitals, and plan a fourth for another hospital.
Joining Satveer, who works settling pensions disputes, and Shanghara, who runs an events management company, to hand over the cot at RWT were Satveer’s mum Asha Rattu and Satveer’s uncle Surinder Summan.
Amanda Winwood, Charity Development Manager, said: “We are so thankful to Satveer and Shanghara for providing a cold cot to support other bereaved families at such a difficult time for them.
“Having the cold cot will support families at their most difficult time and help with the grieving process.”
Anyone wishing to donate to the fund can do so at GoFundMe - Siaan Kaur Foundation
ENDS
- For further information, please call Tim Nash on 07714 741097 or email tim.nash2@nhs.net
