A WIRRAL woman whose granddaughter died from a rare condition at just four months old hopes give others the chance to spend valuable time with their children before saying goodbye.

Backed by the Angel Wings charity – set up two years ago to help support families who have lost a baby or child – Colette Balson set about raising enough money to provide Arrowe Park Hospital with a “cuddle cot”.

The Wallasey mum raised more than £1,500 through a variety of fundraising events in memory of granddaughter Mia, who died in June 2013.

Her family were originally told it was a cost death but an autopsy revealed Mia had suffered from twisted ovaries.

“They said she would have been in so much pain but she wasn’t – she was such a happy baby,” said Colette.

“It was hard for us to take in as we were told that there have only been a handful of babies that have died from this.

“She was four months and three days old when she died. It was the Sunday before Father’s Day – the worst day of my life and for my poor son who was only 21 at the time.”

Colette became involved with Angel Wings shortly after Mia’s death after.

She said: “I think like most people I didn’t know where to turn when a baby dies.”

In May, Colette held a fundraiser at Sheridans in Wallasey Village, raising enough money to provide Arrowe Park Hospital with a cuddle cot – a refrigerated bassinet which can give parents of stillborn children an extra 48 hours with their baby.

The cuddle cot was presented to Arrowe Park’s head of midwifery Debbie Edwards  last week.

She said: “Being able to spend precious time with a baby brings comfort to the family as they begin to come to terms with their loss.

“This is a truly heart-warming donation and I would like to say a very big thank you to Colette for thinking of us.

“Colette’s fundraising will go a long way in helping other families in similar positions of which we are very grateful for.”

Alongside their support networks, Angel Wings also helps to provide burial clothes for babies, made from donated wedding dresses.

Colette added: “I just want to thank the people of Wallasey and Birkenhead for all the support they have given to me for Angel Wings.”