Cot deaths

Press, 17 December 1988, Page 20

Cot deaths

Sir, —Three weeks ago we lost our lovely little granddaughter, Sophie, in a cot death. She was healthy, bright and beautiful, but she died quietly in her sleep. I had promised to write to you from a grandparents’ point of view for the Cot Death Society

(and usually the society prefers to keep a low profile so as not to spread panic among expectant mothers), but then I got angry. Last Thursday we had a programme from the United States called “Manhunt.” It must have cost millions to produce, and was beamed here by satellite. Then this morning I heard that there was a disappointing response to the cot death appeal. Our Sophie was the twenty-sixth to die in Christchurch this year. If this death rate had been a serial killer there would have been an outcry around the world, but this is exactly. what we have — a serial killer that is taking our babies. We have the highest death rate in the Western world. My elder daughter is expecting a baby in June. I thank God she is living in Brisbane, where she has been told there were no recorded cot deaths in the past year. Our babies are dying and we need to know why. We need research. It is too late for Sophie, but think of our future grandchildren. We must support this appeal.—Yours, etc., AILSA SEIL. December 12, 1988.