Story: Darrell Nash
On November 7, 2011 the world of Karl and Alex Waddell changed forever.
And last weekend they put every foot, step and emotion forward to support a cause that mirrored the tragedy that changed their lives forever, during a running event in Port Macquarie.
That November, their baby son River was put to bed in his cot, for the very last time – a life which lasted just 128 days.
Doted on by family and friends, piling on the weight; even trying to stand up at any chance he could, River loved anything but sleep – playing with his toys, dancing with his Nanny to the Wiggles and walking in his pram along the beach.
But nothing compared to his nightly baths where his chuckles could be heard echoing through their house.
On the night of his passing, River woke a couple of times, wanting cuddles, to go back to sleep as normal.
At 11.30pm mum, Alex, fed him again, made sure he was sleeping and popped him back into his cot.
Thinking they would be woken again at about 2-3am for his next feed, Karl and Alex said good night, their room being next door to his, and went to bed.
At 7.25am the next morning they woke to find every parent’s nightmare had become reality.
Their son had passed away in his sleep due to SIDS – Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
SIDS is the sudden and unexpected death of an infant less than one year of age, generally occurring during a sleep period, which remains unexplained after a complete autopsy and death scene investigation.
The tragedy of the loss of a baby to SIDS is increased by the anguish caused by the sudden nature of the death – its occurrence in a seemingly healthy baby without an underlying illness, and its lack of explanation by an autopsy.
In Australia, the current rate of SIDS is approximately one per 3000 live births, accounting for over 70 deaths a year, with an additional 140 deaths classified as “ill-defined” or “unspecified”.
“Due to the widely held, yet terribly misguided belief, that safe sleeping has eradicated SIDS, it’s a cause that receives little attention and as such, very little research funding,” mum Alex said.
“At one time having a major presence on the fundraising calendar, fundraising for SIDS has been scaled back and the focus for proceeds is now predominantly channelled towards bereavement services.”
Hence the family began a fundraising initiative to support the cause called River’s Gift, which was on the run – literally – in Port Macquarie on the weekend during the 2nd Annual Brooks Port Macquarie Running Festival.
Naturally, River’s Gift was formed in honour of River Jak Adam Waddell to raise funds for research into SIDS.
“River’s Gift aims to make a change and raise much needed funds for research into a cure,” Alex said.
Since the introduction of the “Back to Sleep” campaign in the late 1980s, the rate of SIDS has decreased dramatically, but in the last decade, it has plateaued, Alex felt.
With the running of last weekend’s Running Festival, event director Peter Camilliri had absolutely no hesitation
in welcoming the River’s Gift initiative as a partner for the event; and T-shirts were worn to support the cause.
River’s dad, Karl, also made a
moving speech at the event to promote the cause.
Karl, who participated in the 21.1km Half Marathon, said that the emotion surrounding last weekend’s event was “mind blowing”.
“To see so many participants wearing River’s Gift singlets, most of whom I have never met before, was pretty special,” he said.
“I was so moved by the heartfelt support and compassion of those representing River’s Gift, along with the Port community who were there at the event.
“Our little baby daughter Shiloh is just over six months old now and every day we count our blessings for how lucky we
are to have such a beautiful child to adore and nurture.
“Her name is Hebrew for ‘his gift’ – to us it’s so fitting.”
The couple will return to Port Macquarie with their beautiful daughter, whom they tirelessly watch nightly through parental
shifts to ensure she’s okay, in two weeks’ time for another triathlon to honour River’s passing and cause.
For more information you can visit the River’s Gift website www.riversgift.com or check out their Face Book page under River’s Gift.
