Lilianna Rose

Jack sat at the bar staring into the mirror at the tears that refused to stop falling. He downed the glass of whiskey in his hand. A young woman sidled up to him and started flirting. Jack looked over at her and then turned back to his empty glass.

"Leave me alone," he growled.

"Humph," she replied. "What's his problem?" she asked the bartender, rolling her eyes.

"He's upset. He lost his girl last month."

"Oh, well, I can help with that honey!" She hung on Jack's shoulder. "What do you say?"

Jack clenched his fists so tight he broke his drink glass. He opened his hand slowly and stared at the blood seeping around shards of glass without making a sound.

The bartender grabbed Jack's wrist and pulled his hand into the light. He pulled the glass shards out and wrapped his hand with a towel. He pushed a cup of coffee in front of Jack. "The whiskey won't bring her back man. Sober up and take her some flowers. The shop across the street is open late."

Jack nodded and sipped the coffee for a few minutes. He stood up and threw a ten dollar bill on the bar. "Thanks Charlie," he said, barely looking up. He turned away from the woman as if she wasn't there and left the bar.

"If she's that gone; flowers won't help," she shouted after him.

"Lady, you're an idiot," Charlie told her.

She turned away from Charlie with her nose in the air and stalked out. Curiosity piqued, she watched Jack as he went into the flower shop and then exited with a bouquet of white lilies. He walked slowly down the street and around the corner. From a distance the woman shadowed Jack as he made his way several blocks away. At last she saw him walk through a brick archway attached to black wrought iron fencing. She followed him staying behind trees and shrubs until she saw where he stopped and laid down the flowers. He dropped to his knees and wept. His head raised to the shy as his hands clutched the small headstone. "Why?" he said over and over.

A half hour later he left, wiping his eyes on the towel that had been wrapped around his hand. The woman wiped her own eyes as she read the engraving. Lilianna Rose- Beloved Daughter- You joined the angels too soon. Her age was six months.

***

Every year 7,000 infants die in America from Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SUID) and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), which accounts for about half the deaths. According to the Centers for Disease Control SUID is defined as deaths in infants under one year of age that is unexplained (not immediately apparent) until further investigation. While causes for unexplained death can be linked to problems of accidental death in their beds such as strangulation (drapery cords, getting caught between crib railings or railings and the mattress/ bed platform, etc.), suffocation (pillows, blankets, stuffed toys, etc.); SIDS is suspected to be related to stress, birth defects, failure to develop, or other times when babies are vulnerable (source SIDS Network). It is medical, but completely unpredictable. Babies can be healthy and still succumb to SIDSWhile research is still being done, there is still is no definitive cause or prevention and no way to predict who will be affected.

SIDS knows no social or economic boundaries.

SIDS is in no way the fault of the parents.

What you can do to try to prevent SUID:

Put you baby to sleep on their back, not their tummy. A baby can suffocate when on their tummy as they may not be able to turn their heads to get their face where they can breathe.

Keep stuffed toys, pillows, and heavy blankets and comforters away from your baby when they are sleeping so that they do not become covered by them and unable to breath.

Never let your infant sleep in the bed with other larger people (including parents). They could get smothered by the pillows or bed linens, roll onto their face into the mattress, or be rolled onto accidentally.

For more information on SIDS please visit www.sids-network.org.