A COUPLE who were able to spend precious hours with their stillborn daughter thanks to a ‘cuddle cot’ have achieved their goal of granting the gift of time to other grieving parents.

Vicki Atkinson, 25, from Rhyl, gave birth to Amelia Grace Atkinson in June 2015.

She and husband Matt, 28, say they were able to create memories with Amelia thanks to the cuddle cot – a cooling system which looks like a conventional Moses basket that regulates the baby’s body temperature.

The experience sparked a determination in Vicki and Matt to give other parents the same opportunity to get to know their stillborn child.

A fundraising drive was launched to raise £1,600 was launched to permanently install a ‘cuddle cot’ at Glan Clwyd Hospital.

The goal was achieved in just 25 days and the ‘cuddle cot’ has now been ordered. .

Vicki said: “It meant the entire world to us to reach this goal. We both shed a few tears. The cot will arrive with a plaque in memory of Amelia Grace.

“We never thought we would receive such amazing support from the general public and would like to thank each and every person who donated.

“We have been contacted by Angel Wings, who are the non-profit charity that set up our go fund page.

“They have ordered the cot and when it arrives, we will arrange a date to hand it over to the hospital.

“We would like members of staff who helped bring Amelia into the world to be there. They hold a very special place in our hearts.”

Amelia Grace was born by natural birth at Glan Clwyd and weighed 7lb 7oz.

Vicki added: “The cot enabled us to feel like a family, with Amelia in a Moses basket rather than a plastic cot.

“It is a 48 hours we will never forget. It made our little girl look like she was just fast asleep.”

Vicki and Matt, a credit controller and former pupil of Ysgol Emrys Ap Iwan in Abergele, have a son Harrison, who will be two next month.

“We cannot express the feeling we have, knowing we are able to give the gift of time to other parents who have to go through what we have been through,” Vicki said. The couple plan to continue with their fundraising efforts and are now raising money for a ‘snuggle blanket’.

“This regulates the temperature of the body after someone has passed away, but it is for ages three months-plus,” Vicki explained.

“This enables families who lose babies through to children and even to adult, the time that we got with Amelia.

“A final goodbye should never be given a time.”

On September 7, Vicki and Matt will be hosting an Angels Ball Black Tie and Sparkle charity event at The Kinmel and Kinspa in Abergele.

More information about the event will be released soon. To donate to the ‘snuggle blanket' fundraiser, visit www.gofundme.com/glan-clwyd-hospital-cuddle-cot