Letter to the Editor

Ribbon calls attention to SIDS

To the editor:

Everywhere you look these days you see support ribbons for our troops, breast cancer awareness, POW-MIA and so forth. Amen to them all. They have my support too.

But how many SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) and infant-loss support ribbons do you see? They are nearly nonexistent. I suppose that's why someone stole mine off my car.

I lost my firstborn son to SIDS in 1992 at the age of 2 months, 5 days. That ribbon was in his memory. If you took that off my car, please put it on yours and spread awareness about SIDS. These ribbons can be ordered at battlesids.org.

For the best support a SIDS parent or loved one can get, please go to www.sidsfamilies.com. This was started by Lydia Alves a few short months after her son was taken by SIDS. There is so much understanding and heartfelt love there. I joined nine years after I lost my son, and it was only then that I truly grieved and started to heal.

SIDS is very real. It has many misconceptions and myths. Go to one of these sites if you need to know or are in search of support. God bless those who already know.

MARGE PENROD, Cypress, Ill.