The mom changed her stillborn child's outfits and they watched TV together before the baby was laid to rest almost two weeks later
Credit: Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- A mom used a cooling bassinet to bring her stillborn baby daughter home
- Louise Temple changed her dead child’s outfits and they watched TV together before the baby was laid to rest 12 days later
- “It was a very healing decision,” the woman said
A mother spent almost two weeks at home with her dead baby daughter, allowing herself time to grieve the heartbreaking loss before she had to bury the child.
Louise Temple gave birth to daughter Pandora Precious at 32 weeks old in March, after a prenatal scan revealed the child had no heartbeat, according to Kennedy News & Media. The outlet reported that Pandora also had Down syndrome and additional complications.
The woman, her husband, Peter Temple, and the couple's 12 children, ages five to 17, were able to spend time at home with Pandora before her funeral thanks to a cooling bassinet, a medical device that preserves a baby's body and slows the decaying process through cold temperatures.
Louise changed Pandora's outfits and cuddled with her, and they also watched TV together. Twelve days later, Pandora was laid to rest.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Credit: Kennedy News and Media
According to Louise, "It was a family decision [to bring Pandora home], and it was definitely the right one."
"It was a very healing decision," she further explained. "Our plan was to keep her at home until the funeral, [and] we got our wish."
Speaking about how her other kids reacted to handling the news about their stillborn sibling, Louise said, "I can't get over the strength of children."
"We came into the house with Pandora, and they were like, 'Show us her.' … They were very proud to meet her," continued the mom of 12.
Pandora's death occurred two-and-a-half years after Louise had a stillborn baby boy, Cruze Vinnie, at 29 weeks in September 2023.
"I was quite a mess when I lost Cruze. I didn't even hold him, I couldn't bring myself to do it," Louise recalled. "Anxiety took over my body, and I had a total mental breakdown. I regret what I did with Cruze. I punish myself for that."
Faced with a similar situation this time around with Pandora, Louise knew she wanted to do things differently.
"We dressed her every day, and we got her ready for bed every night," the mom said of Pandora. "She watched TV, cuddled in bed with her dad and me, and we got her handprints done [at home]."
Credit: Kennedy News and Media
Louise learned Pandora had Down syndrome shortly after her 12-week scan.
The woman suffered from additional complications and polyhydramnios, extra amniotic fluid, and after multiple hospital visits, Louise was told that Pandora's heart had stopped beating.
The following day, Louise was induced. After a 10-and-a-half-hour labor, she gave birth to Pandora.
"I said, 'I want her out straight away,' and I remember when she came out, I said, 'Give me my baby,' and that was it. I never let her go," Louise recalled. "Even though she'd passed away, I was just still so proud. She looked beautiful."
After almost two weeks with their daughter at home, the family held a funeral for Pandora. "We placed Pandora in her coffin with a lovely pink blanket and had a photo of each of us. I closed the lid and carried the coffin out to the car," Louise said.
"Having 12 days with Pandora was just the best. It helps you grieve better," the mom continued. "I found having Pandora home helped us as a family get through it."
Credit: Kennedy News and Media
Aware of the unique circumstances surrounding Pandora's death, Louise hopes her family's story will inspire others. "People might think we're weird, but it was something we really needed to do," she said.
In a Facebook post, she reiterated, "This was never about attention — it has always been about love, grief, awareness and making sure our beautiful little girl is remembered. Sharing our 12 precious days with Pandora has opened conversations around baby loss, cuddle cots and the importance of supporting bereaved families through unimaginable heartbreak."
Read the full article here
