Balloon launch to help SIDS research

By Nancy Spencer, The Delphos Herald
Published:  Wednesday, June 6, 2007 (2 years, 9 months ago)
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klausings.jpgDELPHOS — Sudden Infant Death Syndrome claims the lives of almost 3,000 infants a year in the United States. Almost 100 of those deaths occur in Ohio each year.
More children will die of SIDS this year than will die of cystic fibrosis, childhood heart disease, childhood cancer and child abuse combined.
In spite of all the research to date, no one can yet say why.
Brad and Kendra Klausing and their families are familiar with these statistics. Their daughter, Aubrey Lynn, died of SIDS on Nov. 30, 2006, at the age of 6 months.
“We want people to know how much it happens,” they said.
Kendra reads all she can about what happened to their daughter and the pair attend a grief group with other parents who have lost children to SIDS.
“For one day a month, we can feel like we’re not different from other people,” Kendra said.
“It’s comforting to be with people who have had the same thing happen to them,” Brad added.
The lack of explanation has left the couple searching for a way to keep this tragedy from happening to someone else.
Another parent in a grief group they attend suggested a balloon launch and the Delphos natives took it and ran with it.
“We wanted what we did to be a celebration of the time we did have with Aubrey and also help SIDS research,” Brad said. “It will be an emotional event.”
“The launch will raise money for SIDS research so this doesn’t have to happen to anyone else,” Kendra said.
The event will give the Klausings some closure and allow their supporters to do their part. Donations will be accepted for a card to write a birthday message to Aubrey that will be attached to the balloons. The money raised will go to SIDS research.
The cards will be available in the office of the Delphos Herald from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Checks can be made out to First Candle/SIDS Alliance or the MISS Foundation. The deadline for cards is June 15.
The launch will take place on June 24 at the Springboro Cemetery near Dayton.
Kendra is the daughter of Sue and Charlie Wilkin and John and “Toots” Sherrick. Brad is the son of Denny and Connie Klausing.

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