Nurses at Sudbury birthing centre run to raise money for comfort kits

Event helps comfort grieving families An upcoming event will raise money for comfort kits, which support families grieving infant or late pregnancy loss.

Bridget’s Bunnies is a Barrie-based charity that provides comfort kits to families who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss.

One of the official providers is the birthing centre at Health Sciences North in Sudbury. Several staff members have signed up to participate in the 7th annual Bridget’s Run on Sunday.

"It's so important to us because these are given to us free of charge," said Christine Mills, HSN labour and delivery nurse.

"If we have any of these losses -- whether it be second-trimester loss or a full-term pregnancy loss or an infant loss while at the hospital -- we are able to provide them with a little something. The books and the resources to even go on the website itself to get in contact with other grieving families."

Kayla Manninen lost her son, Asthon, on Feb. 22. She went in for a routine midwife visit when they discovered the baby had no heartbeat.

"Obviously delivering a baby that, you know, is not, going to be here to stay is hard enough in itself," Manninen said.

"Having the hospital be so supportive and so quick and on everything was definitely really helpful."

She received a comfort kit from HSN and since she was in her second trimester, there was no death certificate or funeral.

She said the kit gave her a way of processing what happened.

"I think that for me, I'm lucky to have a lot of support, but there's a lot of people who don't have that," Manninen said.

"The littlest things make such a big difference … That somebody who's been through this -- and I mean, someone who's been through, in my opinion, a much like more difficult situation than I was -- to be able to like, find it and then to give that to other people, like no matter what stage of pregnancy they're in, I think is a huge deal."

Last year's event raised more than $71,000, allowing the charity to provide almost 700 kits in 2024 alone.

Participants can participate in the event in person in Barrie or virtually from anywhere. Click here to register or to donate.