CEDAR GROVE, N.J. — The emotional trauma associated with losing a child is overwhelming. But when that loss is combined with a total lack of explanation, grief can become far more complicated, says the SUDC Foundation. Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) is the sudden unexplained death of a child over the age of one which remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation is conducted.
It is not a diagnosis but a category of death that eludes our scientific understanding today. In 2015, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 393 children between the ages of 1 and 19 years died without a clear explanation for their death. The majority of SUDC deaths affect children aged 1-4 years.
“It is a frightening statistic, especially since SUDC often occurs in otherwise healthy children during sleep-time,” explained Laura Crandall, co-founder and President of the SUDC Foundation, which is dedicated to increasing awareness, funding crucial research and the prevention of SUDC.
The Foundation is the only organization worldwide devoted solely to the needs of families and professionals affected by childhood sudden death.
When Devon and Georgia Boswell lost their precious son Drew on March 12, 2014, at the age of 15 months, they were devastated. “When we lost Drew, we felt all our dreams for the future slip through our fingers. How could our healthy 15 month-old, simply not wake up,” a question Georgia Boswell still asks today.
Their friend, Christina Grantham, was also shocked by the inexplicable death of little Drew. She joined forces with the SUDC Foundation to improve the country’s awareness of this little known tragedy. In 2016, she spearheaded the first nationwide awareness campaign in the U.S. to proclaim SUDC Awareness month to educate the public and raise funds for crucial research. Twenty-six U.S. states signed on.
“It has been an honor to work with Christina Grantham – a tireless volunteer in the fight to understand and prevent SUDC. Her dedication is not only a reflection of her love for Drew, but also her love for all children,” states Lorri Caffrey, Co-founder of the SUDC Foundation.
In 2017, with the coordinated efforts of Christina and bereaved parents across the U.S., the campaign continues to grow. To date, thirty-four U.S. State Legislatures have issued proclamations that March 2017 is SUDC Awareness Month.
“Awareness is a catalyst that can allow the SUDC Foundation to reach more families and help achieve the end goal of a world without sudden unexplained death in childhood. As Drew’s Mother, I could not be prouder that his short life and the passion of Christina Grantham, and so many others, have led to success of SUDC awareness month. This initiative is not just for Drew, it is for all SUDC children. Their legacies continue to bring out the best in people each and every day,” says Georgia Boswell.
For more information and to view all of the SUDC US State proclamations visit the SUDC Foundation Website at: https://sudc.org/.
About the SUDC Foundation:
The SUDC Foundation is devoted solely to the needs of professionals and families touched by the unexpected death of a child aged 12 months or older. Since its inception, the non-profit Foundation has funded crucial research, helped hundreds of families in over 16 countries, and led many advocacy efforts, including the successful passage of the Sudden Unexpected Death Data Enhancement and Awareness Act, which was signed into law by President Obama in December 2014. For more information, visit https://sudc.org/ and follow us on Twitter @SUDC.
Video (Vimeo), “Explaining the Unexplained”:
https://vimeo.com/196286865
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