Honoring tiny hearts: A local mother’s story of love and loss

Jiyah Desteniey Malcom was born Sept. 14, 2019, and lived for only one hour.

“She died in my arms while she was laying on my chest,” said Rhyelle Malcom of Toledo.

Baby Jiyah was nearly 22 weeks gestation when she was born, weighing less than one pound. Her lungs weren’t developed enough to survive on her own.

The loss came after a long struggle to conceive, Mrs. Malcom said.

Jiyah was born at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ypsilanti, Mich. Mrs. Malcom said she appreciated the CuddleCot, a gentle cooling system that lets grieving families spend meaningful time with their baby in a compassionate and discreet way, without harsh methods or trips to the morgue.

“My husband and I were able to spend as much time as we wanted with her in the room,” she said. “We spent time with her for about t