After devastating loss, B.C. parents turn grief into push for health-care reform

A British Columbia couple who were mistakenly billed for the autopsy of their stillborn daughter say they are cautiously hopeful that their painful experience has helped prompt meaningful improvements within the health-care system.

Laura and Nick Bordignon were still mourning the loss of their baby girl, Makayla Poppy, when an invoice arrived from the Provincial Health Services Authority listing coroner tests performed after her death. The envelope was addressed directly to their daughter — a moment Laura describes as deeply distressing.

Adding to their grief, the couple learned from the letter that Makayla’s body had not yet been transferred to the funeral home they had chosen. Instead, she remained in a morgue weeks after the autopsy and nearly a month after her stillbirth on Sept. 25, 2024.

Health officials later acknowledged the errors and cancelled the invoice, but the Bordignons wanted more than an apology. They asked for a direct meeting with hospital leadership to understand how such a mistake could happen — and how it could be prevented in the future.

“It was actually a really positive experience,” Laura said. “They walked us through the entire process and showed us how they traced the communication breakdown that led to this.”

Nick said the meeting made clear the issue wasn’t a single failure, but systemic gaps.

“What we learned is that there are overlapping responsibilities and major communication gaps,” he said. “That’s where things fell apart.”

In a written response, health officials said internal billing and documentation processes have since been adjusted to prevent similar errors. One key change involved automating how stillbirths are flagged in the system, removing the need for manual data entry that previously allowed human error.

Laura said the invoice was generated because the file had not been properly marked to indicate a stillbirth — a detail that has now been addressed.

“They’ve removed that manual step entirely,” she said. “That alone makes a big difference.”

The couple were also told that communication between hospitals and funeral service providers is being reviewed, particularly in cases involving stillbirth, miscarriage or infant death. Makayla was delivered at Ridge Meadows Hospital and later transferred elsewhere for the autopsy, a process the Bordignons say lacked clarity and coordination.

Health officials say they are reinforcing roles, responsibilities and escalation pathways, while reviewing policies related to post-autopsy care and communication with families.

While an investigation by the B.C. Patient Care Quality Office into the case has been completed, its findings are not public.

Since sharing their story publicly, the Bordignons say they’ve heard from families across Canada who experienced similar situations. They hope their advocacy helps break the silence around stillbirth and pregnancy loss.

“For so long, it’s been something people don’t talk about,” Laura said. “But we need to talk about it — that’s how systems improve and how families feel less alone.”

Earlier this year, the couple paused their advocacy to welcome a newborn son. Even so, they continue to honour Makayla’s memory through community action.

In October, more than 35 family members and friends formed “Team Makayla Poppy” at a charity run in Vancouver, raising over $11,000 for the Butterfly Support Network, a non-profit that supports families navigating infertility, miscarriage and infant loss.

“It felt like the right way to honour her,” Nick said. “Being surrounded by people who understand that loss — it was incredibly meaningful.”