SIDS: Teddy Bears to the Rescue
In a typical situation of SIDS parents go to check on their supposedly sleeping infant, only to find him or her dead in their beds. This is the worse tragedy parents can face, a tragedy which leaves them a feeling of vulnerability that lasts throughout their lives. Since medicine can not tell them why their baby died, they blame themselves and often other innocent people. Their lives and those around them are changed forever.
Not for Julie Lowe though. She was given strength by God on a cool September day when she was told that her baby nephew had passed away. He was taken by SIDS but rose to heaven on a white cloud to be with Jesus. She felt that God was leading her to begin a project; one that parent’s of SID victims will never forget. Now she collects teddy bears of all color, shapes and sizes and she delivers them to the local hospital, Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory to be donated to the parents and children in the ER. These bears are also for the parents to take home and keep in memory of the little precious one’s when they pass away.
“Each time I donate I walk back out through the doors of the hospital and I hate to say this, but I am sad. I am sad because every bear collected is another infant gone, another family mourning, and another baby who knew no sin. But then I realize that this is the very reason I am donating these teddy bears; to help them start the healing process,” says Julie. “Sometimes in the life we are challenged in the worst possible way. We must all use our gifts that God gave us wisely. Even if it is a difficult thing to do, we must remember that God doesn’t put us through anything that we can not handle.”
If you would like to help Mrs. Lowe take this knowledge and help these saddened parents then please gather and donate new and used teddy bears and deliver them to the ER department of Catawba Valley Medical Center or you can email Mrs. Lowe at jjl308@earthlink.net and she will be glad to give you more information on her project and how to donate and rescue. If you plan on donating any Teddy Bears you must remember that they need to be CLEAN and WASHED if they are used and have been in a cigarette smoke environment. Please find it in your hearts to help the Teddy Bears rescue un-expecting parents of SIDS.
If you an expecting parent or a new parents and have questions about SIDS, please contact the American SIDS Institute or you can use the following suggestions.
*Avoid exposing the infant to tobacco smoke. Don’t have your infant in the same house or car with someone who is smoking. The greater the exposure to tobacco smoke, the greater the risk of SIDS.
*Place infants to sleep on their backs, even though infants may sleep more soundly on their stomachs. Infants who sleep on their stomachs and sides have a higher rate of SIDS than infants who sleep on their backs.
*Place infants to sleep in a baby bed with a firm mattress. There should be nothing in the bed but the baby – no covering, no pillows, no bumper pads and no toys. Soft mattresses and heavy covering are associated with the risk for SIDS.
*Consider using home monitoring systems (apnea/bradycardia monitors) in an attempt to prevent sudden death in high-risk infants. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of home monitoring with the baby’s doctor before making your choice. Many communities have specialized programs for the clinical management of babies at high risk for SIDS. For information about the availability of such programs in your area, ask your baby’s doctor or contact the American SIDS Institute.
