URBANA, ILL (WAND) - Carle Foundation Hospital has welcomed a new NICU Bereavement and Private Consultation room, thanks to a donation to the Carle Center for Philanthropy.Â
The new room would not have been possible without the generous gift from the Walker and Wolff families. The room is in celebration of Lily Wolff, a prematurely-born toddler who spent many months in the NICU at Carle Foundation Hospital. The room is also in honor of Autumn, Lily's twin sister who passed away at birth.
Rachel Campbell, RN, is the Perinatal Grief and Bereavement Liaison at Carle Foundation Hospital. She tells WAND, the room is a place much less clinical and much more welcoming to families who may find themselves inside. "This room is one of those places that is not important to you, until it is important." She goes to describe the power this room holds. "It's importance cannot be overstated." She adds, "When you are in a situation in which you might use this room, you are very vulnerable. This is a calm space, it is a healing space and it is safe."
The most notable detail in the room is the purple butterfly mural. Nurse Campbell was alongside Lily Wolff in the NICU when baby Lily weighed less than 3 pounds. She remembers, "When Lily was in the NICU, a purple butterfly was placed on her isolette to symbolize that she was a twin, and her sibling didn’t make it. That purple butterfly now hangs in Lily’s room at home." The room features calming colors, comfortable furniture and dimmable lighting to create a safe space for parents.Â
