Claire’s Comfort Closet
On August 9, 2024, our daughter, Claire Isabel Burke, was born at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital. Shortly after her birth, she was brought to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where she would spend most of her heartbreakingly short life. Just over a month after her birth, Claire was airlifted to the IWK, and we were told what no parent is ever prepared to hear: our daughter had a rare condition with no possible treatment, and she had very little time left. On October 17, 2024, Claire passed away at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital.
This loss has been incredibly difficult. We now carry our baby in our hearts, rather than in our arms. The grief has left us with a hole inside us – one that can never be fixed.
As we carry her memory, we want to help other babies and families experiencing a NICU visit, and bring them support and comfort on their darkest days. This is why we have started “Claire’s Comfort Closet”, a resource for Cape Breton families with little one’s in the NICU, in loving memory of Claire.
Having a baby in the NICU can be an anxiety-inducing and heart-wrenching experience, and things can happen quickly; when your baby is sick, everything else stops. If a baby is born prematurely, or suddenly requires extra care, a family may not have time to get the necessities. We want to make sure that these families have what they need during their NICU stay, so they can focus on their little ones. No matter if your stay is unexpected or you are aware that your baby will need extra care, it can be a terrifying place to be.
Claire’s Comfort Closet has a goal of raising funds to purchase support and comfort items for families experiencing a NICU stay. The closet will include items like baby clothing, supplies, gift cards, sleep sacks, toiletry items, memory-making items and more. There will also be items like puzzles, books, toys and art supplies to help make the stay easier for siblings or little family members when visiting. For NICU families experiencing the unimaginable pain of loss, we hope to provide special comfort items to remind them they aren’t alone.
To everyone who has donated in Claire’s name, and supported the comfort closet, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Your generous gift will help families know that our community is thinking of them through uncertain and hard times, and will help keep Claire’s memory alive.
We believe that families who experienced the loss of a child and other NICU families understand how truly fragile life can be. Claire has opened our eyes to this and reminds us to always lead with love and kindness, as we never know the depth of the battles people carry with them.
We love you so much Claire.
The Burke family
If you would like send a gift to Claire’s Comfort Closet, please fill out the donation form below