A new piece of equipment has arrived at WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital. Something that provides families with the priceless gift of time.

Last year, an Adams County family experienced the unimaginable: the loss of their baby at WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital. In the midst of their grief, they found themselves wishing for more time... more time to say goodbye and to simply be with their child. That wish became the seed of a powerful act of generosity.

Motivated by their experience, Mackenzie and Isaac Brady made a heartfelt donation to the WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital Foundation, specifically to the Maternity Grief Fund, in remembrance of their daughter, Tatum Elaine Brady.

Thanks to their donation of $5,000 and the support of the Foundation’s Maternity Grief Fund, the hospital was able to purchase a caring cradle cooling bassinet.

“We hope this gift gives other families the chance to create memories and say goodbye in their own way,” said Mackenzie Brady.

The caring cradle is a cooling bassinet that gently preserves an infant’s body, allowing grieving parents and loved ones more time to say goodbye. By slowing the natural changes that occur after death, the cradle helps maintain the baby’s appearance, color and condition. This gives families the opportunity to hold their child, take photographs, invite loved ones to visit and begin the difficult process of grieving with dignity and presence.

“This donation allowed for a meaningful addition to our care,” said Ashley Harmon, chair of the bereavement committee and a nurse within the maternity unit at WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital. “While we hope it’s rarely needed, having caring cradle available ensures we can offer the highest level of compassionate, dignified support to families during one of the most difficult moments of their lives.”

The donated cradle will also serve as a tribute to Tatum’s memory that will touch the lives of others for years to come.

This donation is just one example of how community members and the WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital Foundation are working together to support families and improve care. The Maternity Grief Fund, in particular, helps provide resources and support for families experiencing pregnancy or infant loss, including memory-making kits, bereavement materials and now, the caring cradle.

“We couldn’t be more grateful for the maternity nurses who showed up and showed out for us during this time,” said Mackenzie Brady. “We hope this caring cradle can be another tool for the team and anyone who faces the heartache of needing to use it. I also hope that I can be a resource for any mothers or families that may tragically experience this heartbreak.”

In further memory of Tatum, the Brady family will be participating in the 14th annual “Sweet Walk to Remember” in Chambersburg and also hosts a motorcycle ride in her honor, which is now an annual tradition. Last year’s motorcycle event raised the initial donation funding for the caring cradle costs. This year’s event is slated for October 12 at 1 p.m. at Venturas in Fairfield, PA. The family anticipates continuing the giving spirit in Tatum’s loving memory to Sweet Grace Ministries, through which they hope to relay gifts to other families who find themselves faced with the loss of an infant child.

To find opportunities to give back to WellSpan’s local care and community, please visit www.WellSpan.org/giving.