A Couple in B.C. Faced With a Long Wait for Stillborn Daughter's Remains; Shortly Followed by an Invoice for the Autopsy

 A B.C. Couple waited weeks to get their stillborn daughters remains. Then, they were invoiced for her autopsy

Author: Jodie Martinson

Date published: May 9, 2025

A B.C. couple waited weeks to get their stillborn daughter's remains. Then, they were invoiced for her autopsy | CBC News

B.C. couple, Laura and Nick Bordignon

Laura and Nick, a couple from Maple Ridge, went through the unimaginable. They lost their baby "Makayla Poppy" to a stillbirth in September of last year. After going through a tough time, they later received an invoice that covered the autopsy which was never supposed to be sent to them. This added so much unnecessary emotions to the already saddened couple. The entirety of the situation is "now under investigation by B.C.'s Patient Care Quality Review Board", so things like this never happen again. Unfortunately, situations including delays with reuniting families with their stillborn has happened in the past. Although, the PHSA has apologized to the couple, they still have concern that it may be a systemic issue. Fortunately, the couple finally received Makayla's ashes in November and "chose a small heart-shaped urn with a silver butterfly", so she will always be with them. 

This story is absolutely heartbreaking and raises so much concern for health procedure standards. As I got through the article and watched the interview, I was left teary eyed. I can't even begin to imagine the feelings that Laura and Nick went through as the delay heightened the preexisting emotions. It's obvious that this is not the first time people have had issues with the system, and it saddens me knowing that there has been no fix. I hope that the standards are taken more seriously in Canada so others in the future don't have to experience such a thing. It's not fair that this happened to the Maple Ridge couple and it better not be a reoccurring situation.