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Families donate Cuddle Cot to Monroe Clinic
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Members of the Long and Harwick families with the Cuddle Cot they raised money to purchase for Monroe Clinic. Back row, from left: Monroe Clinic nurses Erica Blair, Dana Kundert and Kim Granger. Seated: Tia Long, holding Ariella Long, and Jackie Harwick holding Emma Harwick. Front row: Trevor Long, Eli Long, Conor Harwick, Garrik Harwick and Grayson Harwick. (Photo supplied)
MONROE - A pair of local families worked together to donate a Cuddle Cot to Monroe Clinic after losing their own newborn children to childbirth complications.

Trevor and Tia Long of Brodhead worked together with Jackie and Garrik Harwick of Janesville to raise money to donate a Cuddle Cot to Monroe Clinic.

A Cuddle Cot is a device that cools the body of a deceased infant, slowing decomposition and giving grieving parents more time with their child. Cuddle Cots cost roughly $3,000 each.

"The Cuddle Cot gives the precious gift of time to help families with the grieving process, which is so important," said Vicki Coffey, director of women's services at Monroe Clinic.

The Longs' daughter, Adelyne, was stillborn in 2014 after Tia Long was involved in a car accident the day before she was scheduled to give birth. The Harwicks had their own stillborn son, Jack, in 2015.

The Longs began raising money in Adelyne's memory through an annual 5k walk called Wings of Hope in 2015. This year, Wings of Hope worked with the Harwicks' charity, The Jack Pack, which is dedicated to placing Cuddle Cots in area hospitals.

The families also purchased a Moses Basket bassinet for Monroe Clinic as well.