Creating Dedicated Spaces for Families Experiencing Pregnancy and Infant Loss

Quinte Health and the Belleville General Hospital Foundation are proud to celebrate the completion of the Butterfly Rooms on the Perinatal and Paediatrics Unit at Belleville General Hospital, recognizing the community members, volunteers and donors whose generosity and advocacy helped create dedicated spaces for families experiencing perinatal and infant loss.

The project transformed two spaces on Quinte 7 into welcoming, private environments designed to provide comfort, dignity and support to families when comfort, privacy and compassion matter most. The Butterfly Rooms include a patient room and a dedicated family quiet room, offering families a peaceful space to spend time together, grieve and receive support.

Improvements include built-in storage and millwork, refreshed finishes, new furnishings, enhanced privacy features and family-centred amenities designed with comfort and reflection in mind.

The Butterfly Rooms have their roots in a remarkable community partnership that began several years ago.

In 2019, organizers of the Shawn Coffin/Wayne Brown Memorial 3 Pitch Tournament contributed $5,675 from their annual memorial tournament toward Butterfly Run Quinte’s vision of creating dedicated spaces for families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss at Belleville General Hospital. Combined with proceeds raised through the Butterfly Run, the community support helped lay the foundation for what would become the Butterfly Rooms. Founded in memory of Shawn Coffin and Wayne Brown, the tournament has raised more than $84,000 for local charities over the years, reflecting a longstanding commitment to honouring loved ones through acts of generosity and community support.

That support aligned with the work of the ‘Butterfly Girls’ — Barb Matteucci, Loralee McInroy and Beth Primeau — whose advocacy has transformed support for families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss across the Quinte region.

Through Butterfly Run Quinte, the trio has mobilized the community to raise funds for bereavement resources, specialized equipment, staff education and family supports. Their efforts have funded bereavement kits for grieving families, supported Pregnancy and Infant Loss (PAIL) sensitivity training for healthcare providers, and helped strengthen the care and support available to families navigating loss.

“These rooms are a reflection of what can happen when a community comes together to care for one another,” said Stacey Daub, President and CEO, Quinte Health. “The organizers and supporters of the Shawn Coffin/Wayne Brown Memorial Tournament chose to honour loved ones by helping others. The Butterfly Girls have dedicated years to improving support for families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss through advocacy, volunteerism and sharing their lived experiences. Together, they have helped create spaces that offer privacy, comfort and compassion when families need it most.”

The Butterfly Girls’ impact extends well beyond fundraising. By sharing their experiences and working alongside healthcare teams, they have helped shape improvements in bereavement care and raise awareness of the unique needs of families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss.

“At its heart, this story is about people helping people,” said Alec Bauer, Interim Executive Director, Belleville General Hospital Foundation. “The Butterfly Girls, their donors and supporters, and the organizers of the Shawn Coffin/Wayne Brown Memorial Tournament have channelled personal experiences, generosity and community spirit into something that will support families for years to come. Their kindness will continue to be felt every time these spaces provide comfort to someone who needs it.”

For Quinte Health, the Butterfly Rooms reflect the important role that patients, families, volunteers and donors play in shaping healthcare.

“Some people make a donation. Some people volunteer their time. Some share their lived experiences to help us learn and improve,” added Daub. “This project is a reminder that we all make a difference, and that meaningful improvements in care often begin with people who want to ensure other families feel supported and cared for during difficult times.”

On June 22, Quinte Health and the Belleville General Hospital Foundation recognized the Butterfly Girls, their donors and supporters, and the organizers of the Shawn Coffin/Wayne Brown Memorial Tournament for their generosity, advocacy and commitment to ensuring families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss receive compassionate care and support when it is needed most.

The vision for the Butterfly Rooms was first established several years ago. While the project was delayed as Quinte Health responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant pressures that followed, supporters remained steadfast in their commitment to the project. Quinte Health and the Belleville General Hospital Foundation are grateful for their patience and partnership and are pleased to see this important vision realized.

Back row (left to right): Stacey Daub, President and CEO, Quinte Health; Barb Matteucci and Loralee McInroy, representatives of the Butterfly Girls; Jennifer Faulkner, Manager, Perinatal and Paediatrics Program, Quinte Health; Tracey Giles, Director, Perinatal and Paediatrics Program, Quinte Health; Lina Rinaldi, Vice President and Chief Nursing Executive, Quinte Health; Dr. Melanie Chanda, Medical Director, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Quinte Health; Amanda Grydziuszko, Associate Director, Annual Programs and Donor Engagement, Belleville General Hospital Foundation; Wayne Sheppard, Board Chair, Belleville General Hospital Foundation; and Butterfly Girls donors Colleen Reid, Arenda Ivany and Lynn Brown. Front row: Butterfly Girls donors Jenny Abraham and Sandra Coffin.