A Tragedy at Center--Recognizing Infant Death Syndrome
Your article regarding the day-care center in Westminster touched my soul (“Infant Boy Is Found Dead at Care Center,” Nov. 27). The hearts of all the parents of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) babies go out to Susan Paulino and the parents of the 4-month-old boy.
It seems, though, that this time there were emergency first-responders who may have been recently trained under our state’s new legislative law regarding SIDS and first-responders. It warms my heart to read that they seem to be taking a good look at evidence immediately and calling an obvious case SIDS, instead of what still happens to too many other parents and care providers who are accused of killing the infants and treated horribly because of the ignorance of some responders.
The pain, guilt, dysfunctions, questions, etc., that follow a sudden infant death or crib death are extreme and do not end, as many people think, after or soon after the funeral.
We struggle every day with the pain, memories and guilt of finding our precious children dead.
These are mainly well-nourished, healthy, thriving babies, so that when the news breaks around the family, it is not uncommon to hear comments like “a baby can’t just die” or “they weren’t watching carefully.”
A majority do not realize that, different from an infant with apnea, a SIDS infant cannot be revived through CPR, machines, etc., even if the child dies in its care-provider’s arms.
ANNE HOGAN, Laguna Hilla
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