Bayonne Mayor Issues Proclamation Bringing Awareness To Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood
Bayonne Mayor Issues Proclamation Bringing Awareness To Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood
Editor’s note: Readers can learn more about safe sleep practices for infants, which has been shown to reduce the incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS.
Mayor Kubert Issues Proclamation for Awareness of Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood
Bayonne Mayor Robert Kubert has issued a proclamation declaring the month of March Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) Awareness Month. SUDC is the unexpected death of a child over the age of 12 months, which remains unresolved after an investigation is conducted, including a full and thorough review by a medical examiner.
Mayor Kubert presented the proclamation to Bayonne residents Roy and Colleen Feeley, the parents of the late Shannon Feeley, who passed away suddenly at the age of three-and-a-half in 2007 from an unknown cause. Several members of the Feeleys’ extended family joined them for the presentation of the proclamation. Mayor Kubert read the proclamation to the family members in the Office of the Mayor. In their daughter’s case, as with all SUDC cases, the medical examiner could not determine a cause of death.
The proclamation states, “Each year, there are approximately 400 sudden, unexpected child deaths in the United States among children between the ages of one and 17 years. More than 200 children between the ages of one and four die without any clear cause or explanation, making SUDC the fifth-leading cause of death among that age group.”
The proclamation continues, “While less common than Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), which occurs before a child’s first birthday, SUDC is as mysterious and a significant health concern deserving of increased public awareness and research. At this time, there is no cure or way to prevent SUDC, since its cause is not yet known. It is hoped that future medical research will identify the risk factors and underlying causes of SUDC in an effort to create preventive methods.”
The document also states, “The City of Bayonne recognizes the dedicated efforts of organizations, medical professionals, and volunteers who work to understand better the causes of sudden, unexplained death, to improve the health of infants and children, and to provide much-needed hope and support for families grieving the sudden, unexplained death of a child.”
The proclamation requests Bayonne residents “to honor the memory of young lives lost, to show encouragement and support for families and loved ones forever devastated by their loss, and to increase public awareness of SUDC and the ongoing search for answers.”
To learn more about the issue, Mayor Kubert joined the Feeleys in asking the public to visit the SUDC Foundation’s website at www.sudc.org. The SUDC Foundation envisions a world where no more children are lost to Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood. The SUDC Foundation raises awareness, funds research, and serves those affected by SUDC. The SUDC Foundation is a 501(3) not-for-profit organization located in Roseland, New Jersey.
Throughout March, landmarks across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada will illuminate in blue and yellow, the official colors of the SUDC Foundation, drawing attention to this little-known but tragic medical mystery.
On March 13-15, Bayonne City Hall was illuminated in blue and yellow.
Bayonne Mayor Robert Kubert presents proclamation for Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) Awareness Month: Mayor Kubert presented the proclamation to Colleen and Roy Feeley, the parents of Shannon Feeley, who died in 2007 from an unexplained cause. Members of the extended family gathered in the Office of the Mayor, where Mayor Kubert read the proclamation aloud to the group. Pictured left to right: Caitlin Feeley, Megan Feeley, Colleen Feeley, Roy Feeley, Mayor Robert Kubert, Gina Nowak, Victoria Nowak, John Nowak, and Jake Nowak.
Banner Image: Bayonne Mayor Robert Kubert presents proclamation for Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) Awareness Month: Mayor Kubert presented the proclamation to Colleen and Roy Feeley, the parents of Shannon Feeley, who died in 2007 from an unexplained cause. Members of the extended family gathered in the Office of the Mayor, where Mayor Kubert read the proclamation aloud to the group. Pictured left to right: Caitlin Feeley, Megan Feeley, Colleen Feeley, Roy Feeley, Mayor Robert Kubert, Gina Nowak, Victoria Nowak, John Nowak, and Jake Nowak. Image Credit – City of Bayonne
City of Bayonne
Bayonne is a community that retains many of the elements of a small town. One and two family homes, small apartment buildings, and small business predominate. There is a population of 62,000 people who take pride in their hometown and its history. Bayonne residents and their ancestors moved to the city from many parts of the world. During colonial times and the first century of the American Republic, the Dutch, British, and Africans were the first groups to arrive after the Native Americans. Subsequent waves of immigrants came from all over Europe, especially between the 1880s and the 1920s. In recent decades, sources of immigration have largely been represented from countries in Latin America, the Middle East, and Southeastern Asia. Each group has left its mark on the cultural, religious and political life of the community.
[…] that can cause it. Prematurity especially is a risk factor for SIDS. Readers also learned about Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood, which is similar to SIDS except it is applied when older children die from unknown […]