Favorite Charity: The Great Battle Against SIDS
Website: www.battlesids.org
I lost a granddaughter to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in January 2005. She was 72 days old. Night after night (once I was able to come home from helping my son and his wife) I scoured the internet for information. What I found is that there is way too little known about the #1 killer of children between the ages of 1 month and 1 year. I met Melissa Clements through some awareness-raising groups through SIDSFamilies.com. She had started The Great Battle Against SIDS to honor her daughter, Chassidy, who was taken by SIDS in March 2001.
I would give anything to make SIDS nothing but a terrible memory by the time my grandchildren are having their children. I cannot tell you the devastation this terrible thing leaves when a perfectly (seemingly) healthy child is just suddenly gone and no one can tell you why. Our granddaughter had just had her 2-month checkup two days before she was gone. She passed on her mommy's 30th birthday.
I make awareness bracelets and sell them. 100% of the money from these bracelets goes to The Great Battle Against SIDS. Selling these bracelets also puts me in touch with other families who have lost children to SIDS--most of them much more recently bereaved than I--and I am able to help them as they progress on the journey our family started years ago. I am hoping at some point to expand and benefit other SIDS charities.