Foundation pushes for SIDS awareness

Jaime and Randy Connell began the My Baby Jordan SIDS Foundation with two goals: to create a legacy for their late daughter and to inform Houston mothers of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

After their daughter passed away from SIDS in 2009, the couple initiated the foundation with an office barbecue to earn money for SIDS research. Now, with annual donations reaching $35,000, Jaime constructs care packages that she hopes reach every new mother in the Houston area.

"That's our challenge," she said. "I'd love to get my foot in the door at one of the hospitals who sees it as an opportunity."

Each care package contains tip sheets, magnets and a onesie designed by Connell. As the foundation has grown, Jaime has contacted local hospitals to have her care packages distributed to mothers on delivery days.

"The initial goal for us was to carry on her legacy and give [Jordan's] nine weeks of life here a reason," she said. "It's more about awareness and letting every new mother know what SIDS is. It's something I knew about, but I didn't stress it to my babysitter."

Since 2009, My Baby Jordan Foundation has evolved to fund research to find a cure while maintaining awareness. The Connell's reached out to Boston Children's Hospital's lead SIDS researcher, Dr. Hannah Kinney, to understand SIDS and further Kinney's research. In 2012, My Baby Jordan Foundation donated the bulk of the $35,000 they raised in donations to help fund Kinney's research, Jaime said.

SIDS typically affects infants ranging in age from one month to 1 year. It usually occurs when the cause of death cannot be explained after a thorough case examination and autopsy.

The American Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Institute lists 2,500 infants die from SIDS every year in the United States. Jaime said the statistics seem misleading.

"It's amazing the statistics are 2,500 babies a year," she said. "I personally believe honestly it's more [because of] the number of people that I've met in Cypress alone that have lost [infants.]"

The Connell's host annual barbecues and golf tournaments to raise money for Kinney's research and distribution of their caregivers guide. Jaime said she wants to begin a casino night and charity walk to spread SIDS awareness.

Jaime said she hopes to raise enough money to eventually meet with hospitals so she may distribute her care packages.

Jaime maintains a website and blog expressing her experiences with SIDS and has received responses from local mothers in Cypress. She said she has bonded with other mothers who have lost children to SIDS and wants to act as a shoulder on which other parents can lean.

Throngs of emails are sent to Jaime from parents wanting to get involved and looking to order SIDS awareness bracelets from their website.

www.mbjsids.org