Rocking new babies transcends infant’s tragic death

BELLEVUE - Even a baby who lived just six short days can make a difference in the lives of thousands.

Such is the case of Eleonore Grace Friedrich through the determination of her parents, Dave and Rochelle (Martin) Friedrich of Strongsville. Rochelle, a Clyde native, found out 20 weeks into her pregnancy that her baby was battling Shone’s Complex and was not expected to live long. Shone’s Complex involves both sides of the heart not forming equally, leading to many other complications throughout the development of the fetus.

“In July of 2009, Rochelle was in a fender-bender and after the accident, did not feel well,” noted Bob Martin of Clyde, Rochelle’s father. “An ultrasound revealed the umbilical cord was abnormally developed and the right side of the baby’s heart was developing more than the left side. At that point we knew that ‘Baby Peanut’ was not going to live a normal life, and possibly not live very long as well.”

On Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, Eleonore Grace was born, a seemingly healthy 7-pound, 2-ounce, 20-inch long beautiful little girl. But she did indeed suffer from an abnormal heart and a number of other medical issues. It was only a matter of time before Eleonore’s tiny heart would not be able to sustain her life.

“Eleonore was born,” Bob said, “then Rochelle got to hold her and have her baptized, and then our baby was immediately taken to the Cleveland Clinic neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and put on life support. Six days later, they took Eleonore off of life support and allowed Rochelle to hold her once more. At the time, all she wanted to do was hold her daughter and rock her, but sadly, there were no rocking chairs in the NICU.”

It took the nurses some time, but they did come up with two old rocking chairs.

It was on the ride home from the hospital after losing their daughter that Rochelle and Dave decided to have rocking chairs made and donated to the clinic so that other parents would have the opportunity to rock their infant sons and daughters.

And so was born the “Eleonore Rocks Foundation” and the initiative to put rocking chairs in hospitals throughout Ohio and the country.

Since 2009, the Eleonore Rocks Foundation has put over 480 rocking chairs in hospitals across 12 different states, all thanks to donations and fund-raisers totaling more than $265,000. “In situations like Rochelle and Dave went through, it is so important for parents to be able to rock their child,” said Bob, who noted that each Amish-made “Eleonore Rocks” chair costs about $450.

The Bellevue Hospital’s (TBH) Family Birthing Center recently received a donation of two “Eleonore Rocks” chairs, courtesy of Lantz Family Farms in Clyde. “I grew up with Rochelle and the two other Martin kids, and I have had two children born here,” noted Mike Lantz when talking about his family’s intentions to donate the two rocking chairs to TBH.

TBH and TBH’s Foundation also donated a total of $1,000 to the Eleonore Rocks Foundation to keep the momentum going to supply chairs to other hospitals. “It is our way of ‘paying it forward’ so that the mission of the Eleonore Rocks Foundation may be realized,” said Michael K. Winthrop, President and CEO of TBH.

For additional information on the Eleonore Rocks Foundation, please send donations or write to P.O. Box 361332, Strongsville, OH 44136, or access the website at www.eleonorerocks.org