At the most difficult moments in life, being close to the people we love can bring immeasurable comfort.
Thanks to the generosity of donors and community supporters, Cuddle Beds at St Vincent’s Private Hospital Brisbane and St Vincent’s Care Services Toowoomba are helping families remain physically close during end-of-life care, offering comfort, dignity and connection when it matters most.
Larger than a standard hospital bed, a Cuddle Bed is designed so a loved one can lie beside a patient. This simple yet powerful innovation allows partners, parents, children and family members to hold hands, share quiet conversations or simply rest together during life’s most meaningful moments.
A lasting legacy in Brisbane
At St Vincent’s Private Hospital Brisbane, the hospital’s first Cuddle Bed was recently blessed as part of a new family space within the palliative care ward.
The initiative was made possible through the extraordinary efforts of Lauren O’Mahony, who worked closely with St Vincent’s Foundation Queensland to raise funds in memory of her husband, Don O’Mahony, who passed away from brain cancer in 2024 at just 41 years of age.
Lauren’s fundraising was supported by her two young sons and their school and kindergarten communities, whose generosity helped bring the project to life.
The Cuddle Bed now offers families facing similar experiences the opportunity to remain close to their loved ones during end of life care, providing a small but deeply meaningful source of comfort during an incredibly emotional time.
Supporting families in Toowoomba
In Toowoomba, a Cuddle Bed forms part of the newly opened palliative care family suite at St Vincent’s Care Toowoomba, a dedicated space designed to support residents and their loved ones during their final chapter.
The bed was generously donated by local resident Bruce McGowan and The Belinda McGowan Foundation, in partnership with St Vincent’s Foundation Queensland.
The broader family suite was made possible through the generosity of the Estate of Joan McKean and the Estate of John Wilke, helping create a purpose-designed environment where families can stay close, share quiet moments and feel supported while spending time with their loved one.
For families travelling long distances or navigating the emotional realities of end of life care, the suite provides a peaceful and welcoming space to simply be together.
At St Vincent’s Foundation Queensland, we believe care extends beyond clinical treatment. It is guided by compassion, dignity, and a commitment to supporting the whole person and the families who love them.
With the generosity of our donors and community supporters, initiatives like Cuddle Beds create spaces where families can remain close, feel supported, and share meaningful moments together.
It is thanks to this generosity that families at St Vincent’s can be side by side when it matters most.
If you would like to help, bring comfort, connection, and dignity to patients and families through initiatives like Cuddle Beds, you can donate or learn more at svfq.org.au.
