Mom Used a Cooling Bassinet to Spend 12 Days at Home with Stillborn Baby Daughter Before the Child’s Funeral

In a poignant tale of love and loss, Louise Temple chose to bring her stillborn daughter, Pandora Precious, home for nearly two weeks, allowing her family to grieve together before the funeral. The decision was facilitated by the use of a cooling bassinet, which helps to preserve a deceased infant’s body at lower temperatures, thus delaying the natural process of decay.

Louise gave birth to Pandora at 32 weeks in March, following a heart-wrenching discovery during a prenatal scan that revealed her baby had no heartbeat. Alongside the news of Pandora’s passing, Louise learned that her daughter had Down syndrome and faced several medical complications. Despite the desperate circumstances, the Temple family was able to cherish precious moments with their new baby girl before saying their final goodbyes.

Sharing her experience, Louise expressed that bringing Pandora home was the right decision for their family. “It was a very healing decision,” she remarked, explaining that they spent the days leading up to the funeral dressing Pandora in different outfits and even watching television together. Louise reflected on the immediate bond she felt, stating, “I never let her go. Even though she’d passed away, I was just still so proud. She looked beautiful.”

The family’s willingness to embrace their grief together was evident, particularly among Louise’s other 12 children, aged between five and seventeen. Louise described their reaction when Pandora arrived home, saying, “They were like, ‘Show us her.’ They were very proud to meet her.” The open display of love and support within the family created a nurturing environment that helped them process their loss.

This experience was not Louise’s first encounter with heartache, as she had previously suffered the loss of her son, Cruze Vinnie, who was stillborn at 29 weeks in September 2020. Reflecting on that painful experience, Louise admitted, “I was quite a mess when I lost Cruze. I didn’t even hold him, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.” She expressed regret for not embracing her son in his final moments and was determined to approach Pandora’s situation differently.

The decision to dress and care for Pandora brought a sense of normalcy amid the chaos of grief. Louise described the family’s daily rituals: “We dressed her every day, and we got her ready for bed every night,” she said. They even took handprints of Pandora to keep as a cherished memory. These routines allowed them to bond and honour Pandora’s brief life, weaving her firmly into the fabric of their family history.

Louise initially learned of Pandora’s Down syndrome during her 12-week scan and faced additional complications, including polyhydramnios, an excess of amniotic fluid. Following numerous hospital visits, the confirmation that Pandora’s heart had stopped beating led to an induction the following day. The birthing experience, lasting ten-and-a-half hours, was bittersweet, leaving Louise with a profound sense of pride, despite the circumstances of their loss.

After an emotional 12 days with Pandora, the family laid her to rest. Louise described the intimate process of preparing for the funeral, saying, “We placed Pandora in her coffin with a lovely pink blanket and had a photo of each of us.” The sight of the closed coffin carried poignant weight, underscoring the love they had for their daughter.

In echoing her family’s experience, Louise hopes to inspire others facing similar tragedies. She candidly acknowledged that while some may find their choice unconventional, it was essential for their healing. “This was never about attention — it has always been about love, grief, awareness and making sure our beautiful little girl is remembered,” she shared.

By sharing their story, the Temple family hopes to foster conversations about baby loss, the role of cooling cots, and the vital necessity of support available to bereaved families. As they continue to navigate their grief, Louise’s message resonates: acknowledging and honouring their beloved Pandora does not diminish the pain of their loss but rather transforms it into a testament of love and togetherness.