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General News

2 June, 2023

Mack’s legacy continues

WARRNAMBOOL’S South West Healthcare is on track to open a bereavement room for its maternity unit.

By Staff Writer

Damien and Bec with children Vinny and Izzy.
Damien and Bec with children Vinny and Izzy.

Sadly, such a room is desperately needed by couples and families far and wide who, currently, are often faced with the added trauma of needing to deliver their baby surrounded by the sounds of crying newborns and celebrations. 

Bec and Damien Pemberton are one such couple who, three years ago, were faced with the heartache of saying hello and goodbye to their precious little son Mack, all on the one day. 

And having to do this while surrounded by the natural celebrations and joy that usually follow the arrival of a newborn, only adds to the heartache and profound sense of loss and grief. 

“A bereavement room is so important and will, sadly, benefit so many people from across the district and beyond in their time of grief,” Bec said. 

“There’s nothing more heartbreaking than the loss of a child or a newborn. 

“Imagine finding out your baby has a severe health condition, is dying or has died in your tummy. You may have had to undergo a medical termination and then need to be induced to birth your baby,” Bec said. 

“Walking into the maternity ward at the hospital, down the corridors full of happy visitors carrying balloons and bouquets is heartbreaking; hallways full of the sounds of birthing women and screaming newborns. 

“You have to be there because you need the midwives and the doctors; you have nowhere else to go. 

“They put you in a room where you spend the next day or two labouring to the sounds of newborns before your baby is born silent.” 

This was Bec and Damien’s journey on May 29, 2020. 

It is this that led the Pemberton’s on their quest to successfully raise $10,000 to purchase a cuddle cot through Bears of Hope late in 2020 in honour of Mack – and they are now calling on the community to support them and South West Healthcare to raise funds for a bereavement room. 

The cuddle cot is a cooling system that has been designed to fit within a shnuggel basket and lies beneath the baby, allowing families the choice to spend more time with their baby who has passed away. 

‘Mack’s cot’ has been of comfort to many families to date, and the Pemberton’s are now asking the community to get behind them once again to raise funds towards SWH’s new bereavement room. 

“Every hospital needs a bereavement suite and we’re so pleased that Warrnambool is doing just that,” Bec said.

“The suite will be away from the sounds of birth and the celebrations. It will allow birth, medical treatments and grief to be done in private. 

For the families who will come next, this will give them the support they desperately need and deserve.” 

According to South West Healthcare community partnerships manager, Suzan Morey, the hospital is now finalising the planning stage of this initiative. 

She confirmed SWH would develop, during 2023-24, a bereavement room for its maternity unit at Warrnambool. 

“It’s expected to cost close to $100,000 to redevelop, fit-out and equip the space we have chosen,” Ms Morey said. 

“We’d love to hear from anyone who would like to help us with this very special cause.” 

For the month of June, Bec and Damien are donating 10 per cent of all profits from every job completed through their company, Pembo’s Carpet Care. 

Bec can be contacted on 0439 036 691 or, to make a direct donation for the bereavement suite, contact South West Healthcare Warrnambool.

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