A sad day

[SimonM]

Today I went to a funeral of a 2 year old. His mum put him to bed, he was happy, no signs of anything wrong, when she went in the next morning to get him up he was dead. It was her only child.

Doesn't get much worse than that.

It helped solidify a decision we have made recently though, which will see us spending more time together as a family, and having more adventures. Life is too short to mess around.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Simon

Such a terrible situation, you think that at 12 mths, kids get over the risk of SUDI* but this is a reminder.

Do we know if there were any contributing factors, like over-warming with too many bed clothes?

Make sure you give your two little ones an extra hug tonight!

Diana

*SUDI = Suddern Unexpected Death of an Infant (formerly known as SIDS)

[dswatts]

That's tragic, so sad for a parent to out live a child.
My greatest fear is something happening to my children.
I make sure to hug them everyday.

[SimonM]

Simon

Such a terrible situation, you think that at 12 mths, kids get over the risk of SUDI* but this is a reminder.

Do we know if there were any contributing factors, like over-warming with too many bed clothes?

Make sure you give your two little ones an extra hug tonight!

Diana

*SUDI = Suddern Unexpected Death of an Infant (formerly known as SIDS)

Hi Diana,

I have not heard of any factors that led to it. I believe they are still waiting for the coroners report.

My two have been getting lots more hugs, dont worry about that.

[SimonM]

That's tragic, so sad for a parent to out live a child.
My greatest fear is something happening to my children.
I make sure to hug them everyday.

Same here mate.

[loanrangie]

That really is a tragedy, nothing could be worse than losing a child :(.

[bob10]

jeez I hate it when I hear stories like that, sometimes life doesn't seem fair.I hope the poor mother has plenty of support, Bob

[mick88]

Tragic!

[wagoo]

Very sad. The parents would be inconsolable.:(
RIP little fella.
Bill.

[Slunnie]

That's tragic, so sad for a parent to out live a child.
I heard last night or the night before that the current youth are the first generation that are not expected to outlive their parents.

[digger]

She put him on a snow-white shroud,
A rosary on his head;
And gathered early primroses
To scatter o'er the dead.

She laid him in his little grave --
'Twas hard to lay him there,
When spring was putting forth its flowers,
And everything was fair.

She hadn’t lost any children -- now
The only one was gone;
And day and night she sat and wept
Beside the funeral stone.

One midnight, while her constant tears
Were falling with the dew
She heard a voice, and lo! her child
Stood by her weeping too!

His shroud was damp, his face was white,
He said, -- I cannot sleep,
Your tears have made my shroud so wet,
O, mother, do not weep!

O, love is strong! -- the mother's heart
Was filled with tender fears;
O, love is strong! and for her child
Her grief restrained its tears.

One eve a light shone round her bed,
And there she saw him stand --
Her infant in his little shroud,
A candle in his hand.

Lo! mother, see my shroud is dry,
And I can sleep once more!
And beautiful the parting smile
The little infant wore.

And flown within the silent grave
He laid his weary head;
And soon the early violets
Grew o'er his grassy bed.

The mother went her daily ways --
Again she knelt in prayer,
And only asked of Heaven its aid
for her heavy lot to bear.



Adapted from poem by Letitia Elizabeth Landon (1856)

My families thoughts and prayers are with them.

Think about this poor couple and their son on RED NOSE day and dig deep to try and stop anyone else suffering the same fate..

[SimonM]

It always puts things in perspective when something like this happens. Some of the trivial things I worry about pale into insignificance.

The mum has plenty of support. My wife is part of a small mothers group that formed about 2 and half years ago, which included this mum, and they catch up regularly. They have all been a great support. It has affected all the mum's profoundly though, as you would expect, and the dads of course.

Not sure of the support for the dad but he seemed to have plenty of family and friends around.

[EchiDna]

Similar happened to friends of ours while camping - except the daughter was a twin and 9 at the time. tragic, horrible stuff :-(

[Pilbara130]

So sad my heart goes out to his family.

Would have to be one of the hardest things to do in life they will need so much support to get through this tough time.

RIP little man.

Dan

[SimonM]

Similar happened to friends of ours while camping - except the daughter was a twin and 9 at the time. tragic, horrible stuff :-(

Bloody horrible.

[JDNSW]

I heard last night or the night before that the current youth are the first generation that are not expected to outlive their parents.

I don't think you mean exactly what you said - I think you mean the first not to have a longer life expectancy than their parents.

In fact, if you read a little history (and not too far back, either), a majority of children have died as infants throughout history. My generation is probably the first where losing a child, especially a young one has been unusual. (Most of this as a result of the acceptance of the germ theory of disease and resulting changes in public health measures that started in the late nineteenth century and were largely in place over most of Australia by WW2.)

This does not dim the tragedy for the family, however, especially where it is an only child. And, having seen five grandchildren born, and now having only four, I am all too familiar with this sort of tragedy. My sympathy to the family.

John

[d2dave]

This is a tragic story. My heart goes out to the family.

[LandyAndy]

Sad story.
My young fella made it thru those first couple of years despite having to have a kidney operation at 18 months.
He now is aproaching the next danger zone when we tend to loose them.
About to turn 18,soon to have a licence and car,travelling to and from parties with mates.At least Maxi Me is very mature for his age,I hope its enough to get him thru.
Andrew