New donation strengthens support for families experiencing infant loss at Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital
March 11, 2026
A generous donation is giving grieving families at Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital something priceless: more time with their baby.
Tidelands Health chaplain and volunteer Fuzzy Lake and his wife, Joyce, recently donated a Caring Cradle to the hospital’s labor and delivery unit. With this donation, parents experiencing the loss of an infant will have more time to say goodbye.
The Caring Cradle, similar to the hospital’s existing CuddleCot, uses gentle cooling technology to preserve an infant’s body, giving families additional time with their child. With the device, parents can cuddle and hold their baby, take photos and create keepsakes before saying goodbye. 
The newly donated Caring Cradle is specially designed for infants under four pounds, allowing Tidelands Waccamaw to better serve families experiencing early perinatal loss. Together, the Caring Cradle and CuddleCot help families of both pre-term and full-term infants have access to compassionate support.
“Experiencing the loss of a baby is a heartbreak no family is ever prepared for,” said Shelly Laird, director of women and children’s services at Tidelands Health. “The Caring Cradle will make a meaningful difference for families facing the loss of a child. Having those extra moments can be invaluable, and we are incredibly thankful for this donation that strengthens the support we’re able to provide.”
Tidelands Waccamaw was the first hospital in South Carolina and the second in the nation to earn advanced certification in perinatal care from The Joint Commission in collaboration with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
The hospital was also the first in South Carolina to be designated Baby Friendly by the World Health Organization and UNICEF.
About Tidelands Health
Tidelands Health, in collaboration with MUSC Health, is the region’s largest health care provider, serving the Carolinas at four hospitals and more than 70 outpatient locations. More than 2,500 employee, physician and volunteer partners work side by side with our communities to transform the health of our region – promoting wellness, preventing illness, encouraging recovery and restoring health.
