Photo Caption - Mayor Davis presents proclamation for awareness of Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood:  Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis (left) presents a proclamation declaring March Sudden Unexplained Death in Children (SUDC) Awareness Month.  Receiving the proclamation are Colleen Feeley (center) and Roy Feeley (right).  The Feeley’ daughter, Shannon, had an unexplained death in 2007.

Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis 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 Davis 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.  Mayor Davis thanked the Feeleys for making him aware of the issue of Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood, which he had not encountered while responding to emergencies as a police officer.  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 Davis 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.  During several days in March, Bayonne City Hall will be illuminated in blue and yellow.

 
Photo Caption - An unexplained passing:  Shannon Feeley died in 2007 of an unexplained cause.  She was three-and-a-half years old.  Her parents work with the SUDC  Foundation to raise awareness of Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood.