Hayes Foundation

Hayes Foundation to Join CJ Foundation for SIDS

2011-10-12T12:23:00.007-04:00

“This is a magical day for me and everyone who has helped the Hayes Foundation get to this point,” said Oliver, founder and executive director of the Hayes Foundation. “It’s overwhelming to think about how small we were when we started and now have the opportunity to partner with the CJ Foundation. I’m honored the Hayes Foundation is joining such an impactful organization, an organization that can take us to new levels of raising awareness of SIDS in Richmond and beyond.”

“One of our goals with the This Side Up campaign has been to spread our message across the country and beyond,” said Oliver, who will join the CJ Foundation’s board of directors. “The CJ Foundation will be able to take the This Side Upcampaign to another level and guide its growth. We now have the onesies in English, Spanish and Vietnamese – I would like to see them in every language one day.”

Click here to read the full press release.

Hayes Foundation to Join CJ Foundation for SIDS

2011-10-12T12:23:00.006-04:00

Click here to read the full press release.

2011-04-01T09:07:00.000-04:00

A new Australian study finds that babies who sleep on their stomachs -- a position thought to pose a risk for SIDS -- have lower levels of oxygen in their brains than those who sleep on their backs.

Click here for the full article.

2011-03-15T13:51:00.003-04:00

US House of Representatives proposes deeper cuts to Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant. This cut could end lifesaving research and essential services including prenatal and well-child care.

Contact your House representative and urge them to fight cuts to MCHB, HRSA, NIH and CDC. You can find information on your representative by visiting www.house.gov.

Click here to learn more.

Robert Redford talks about losing his son to SIDS.

2011-02-01T14:12:00.001-05:00

I am so grateful Robert Redford is willing to share his story and express his feelings about losing his son to SIDS. It’s true that the pain never goes away, you just learn to live with it. Here’s Robert’s story.

Legendary actor Robert Redford is opening up about SIDS, and the impact it has had on his personal life. In doing so, he is also opening up some incredibly painful and very old wounds.

According to Popeater, Redford will appear in the March/April issue of AARP Magazine. His cover story details the tragedy of losing his infant son to SIDS more than fifty years ago.

Redford says he has never gotten over losing his son. He and his first wife, Lola Van Wagenen went on to have three additional children following the loss of their 5-month-old baby boy, but he claims the grief never fully went away.

"It was really hard," Redford said in AARP Magazine. "We were very young. I had my first theater job. which didn't pay much. We didn't know anything about SIDS, so the only thing you think is that you've done something wrong. As a parent, you blame yourself. That creates a scar that never completely heals."

Click here for the full story.

Kyra Oliver Shares Her Story With CBS's Virginia This Morning.

2011-01-25T12:26:00.002-05:00

Click here to see the full interview

Last day to Vote.

2010-11-30T15:30:00.001-05:00

Challenge: get 5 friends to text 104059 to 73774 or visit
http://www.refresheverything.com/stopsidsvirginia
and vote today.

Can you do it? Let's go!

2 days left!

2010-11-29T13:49:00.001-05:00

Challenge: get 5 friends to text 104059 to 73774 or visit http://www.refresheverything.com/stopsidsvirginia and vote today and tomorrow.

Can you do it? Let's go!

November is almost over-- hang in there with me. Text today!

2010-11-18T12:31:00.000-05:00

We need your help!

Text 104059 to 73774 and vote online at http://www.refresheverything.com/stopsidsvirginia

Thanks!

NIH alerts caregivers to increase in SIDS risk during cold weather

2010-11-11T10:10:00.000-05:00

NIH alerts caregivers to increase in SIDS risk during cold weather

Extra blankets, warm clothes, may lead to dangerous overheating

Parents and caregivers can take steps to reduce the risks of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) during the colder months, when infants are at higher risk, according to the National Institutes of Health.

These include avoiding overheating an infant during nap or sleep time; placing the infant on his or her back to sleep; placing infants to sleep on a firm, safety approved mattress; keeping toys, blankets, and other loose objects out of the crib, and never smoking around an infant.

Click here for the full article

Please Vote. We NEED your help!

2010-11-03T13:33:00.001-04:00

Please HELP-- I need your vote every day

2010-11-01T20:16:00.001-04:00

This Side Up campaign launches partnership with the Healthy Start Coalition of SW Florida!

2010-09-24T09:33:00.002-04:00

I am so excited to to share this story from our 3 press conferences held yesterday. It was the official launch of our partnership of the This Side Up (TSU) Campaign with the Healthy Start Coalition of Southwest Florida. Every baby delivered in a birthing hospital in Southwest Florida will go home with a TSU onesie!

To read the full story:

http://www.news-press.com/article/20100924/HEALTH/100923079/1075/Lee-County-ceremony-mourns-infants--lives-cut-short

Hayes Foundation Raises $100,000 to Combat SIDS

2010-06-23T14:34:00.004-04:00

The Country Club of Virginia was the site May 15th for the eighth annual Hayes Foundation State of the Art Ball, a black-tie fundraiser themed this year around "Bond, James Bond, Baby."

Just in recent weeks, we've implemented - via hospital educators - a This Side Up survey to be given to prospective parents... to help us gauge their awareness and understanding of SIDS," Oliver said.

"Ukrop's Dress Express President, John Carrico, sizes up a This Side Up onesie with the help of Kyra Oliver, Founder and Executive Director."

Click here to read the full story printed in the Richmond Times Dispatch.

Study May Show Cause of SIDS

2010-02-03T15:06:00.005-05:00

This week a study was released that shows in its preliminary data that scientists are coming closer to determining another factor – and perhaps the cause – of SIDS deaths. Reported last night on NBC’s Nightly News and this morning on the Today Show, the study – led by Children’s Hospital Boston – found that babies who died of SIDS had reduced levels of a chemical called serotonin, which helps regulate breathing, blood pressure and heart rate in the brain during sleep. Essentially, if a baby with low levels of serotonin is put face down in the crib and begins to re-breathe carbon dioxide, it may not be able to respond correctly by lifting or turning its head and waking up.

While we still have a ways to go to understand SIDS completely, this is a very encouraging step in the right direction. Researchers will work towards a screening test for serotonin levels in a baby’s brain so that we can identify babies who may be at greater risk for SIDS.

Furthermore, the study supports the practice of reducing the risk of putting babies on their backs at nap or bed time to reduce the risks of SIDS. Our educational onesies include several safe sleeping tips on the back, which I’ve listed below. Check out www.thissideupcampaign.org to learn more about our efforts.

Keep me safe by:
· Placing me on my back while sleeping

· Giving me a pacifier at nap and bed time

· Keeping me out of a grown-up’s bed

· Removing all toys from where I sleep

· Not allowing adults to smoke around me

· Keeping me from getting overheated

· Breastfeeding me as often as possible

Kyra Oliver tells Richmond Family Magazine why it is important to be educated and to educate others.

2009-12-10T14:38:00.007-05:00

"New information is being discovered all the time," says Kyra. "And that's part of our goal - not just to educate parents about what we already know about SIDS, but also to learn more about risk factors that can be avoided in the future.

"We were doing everything right," says Sarah Webster, who lost her daughter to SIDS. "Alexandra breastfed right away with no problems. We always put her down on her back and we know the sitter did the same."

"Ultimately it comes down to what is best for the family," Kyra Oliver says. "If you have a child who just will not sleep on his back, then you may have to adjust your plans. You can't go day after day without sleep, so you just do the best you can."

To download the full article:
http://www.hayeshitzemanfoundation.org/docs/richmondfamilylr%20(2).pdf

Ads Perpetuate Unsafe Sleeping

2009-08-21T14:51:00.000-04:00

The Back to Sleep campaign officially launched in 1994 to educate caregivers that babies are safest from the risk of SIDS when sleeping on their backs.

Fifteen years later and almost every time you see a picture of a baby sleeping – whether it is in an ad or to show off a professional photographer’s portfolio – the baby is sleeping on his stomach. U.S. News and World Report highlighted this dichotomy in a piece this week, which included other safe-sleeping tips.

The message advertisers send when they show babies sleeping on their stomachs is irresponsible in light of what researchers have learned about SIDS. It’s time companies stop sending mixed messages.

People act on what they see or hear. Fifteen years after Back to Sleep, there obviously is the need for more education. That’s why we started the This Side Up campaign.

Hayes Foundation/This Side Up Campaign Featured in Woman's World

2009-08-10T14:04:00.005-04:00

This week's (Aug. 17) Woman's World magazine features the Hayes Foundation and our This Side Up campaign.

Very exciting and a little nerve-racking at the same time. Three years ago, we had an idea for a campaign to raise awareness of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and today, we're highlighted in the "Doing Good" section of Woman's World, which has a circulation of 1.3 million.

Check it out here: http://www.thissideupcampaign.org/documents/womansworldfull.pdf

Virginia Sees Drop in Infant Mortality

2009-08-04T14:51:00.003-04:00

Some very exciting news to share!

Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced today that the state’s infant mortality rate dropped from 7.7 deaths per 1,000 births in 2007 to 6.7 deaths per 1,000 births in 2008 – its lowest rate ever.

Of special note to me was a statistic delivered by Dr. Karen Remley, the Virginia Health Commissioner: there were 22 fewer SIDS or safe-sleeping-related deaths in 2008 than in 2007.

This is terrific news and something that all who have been involved at the state, local and private level should be proud. I’d like to think we have contributed by educating parents, grandparents and all caregivers that babies are safest from the risk of SIDS when sleeping on their backs…or This Side Up.

Our This Side Up campaign was announced in March of 2006 and was implemented in a handful of hospitals later that year. Since then, we’ve grown to nearly 20 Virginia hospitals, and we were especially honored to include our onesies in the New Parent Kits provided to Central Virginia parents through a partnership with Gov. Kaine’s Smart Beginnings initiative, Ukrop’s Super Markets Inc., Ukrop’s Dress Express and Pampers.

I applaud Gov. Kaine and all who have been involved - today is a big step forward. But, I also know that there’s more work to be done.

This Side Up Campaign Is Now In Florida

2009-06-17T07:34:00.002-04:00

I am so proud that we are now in Florida! Our goal is to educate everyone-- mom's, dad's grandparents, siblings, anyone who keeps your child, so that NO ONE has to go through the tragedy of losing a child.

We need to get this campaign across the country. The thing that is so special about this campaign is that the onesie is a way to educate without putting so much fear into our minds. What I mean is that no one wants to talk about SIDS-- they will turn their heads at the thought. It is too much. However, the onesie is adorable and opens the conversation. And if they don't want to talk, they will still get the message because the onesie is loaded with tips that may help.

Kate Santich, a writer for the Orlando Sentinel, joined us at the press conference last week. Read her perspective. She shares information about what Florida is doing to help save babies. She also notes the help of Matt Bryant, Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker who also joined us at the press conference.

The campaign is a joint effort by the Health Council of East Central Floridaand the Hayes Foundation, started in 2002 by Kyra Oliver of Richmond, Va., who lost her son Hayes to SIDS. Their mission, thanks to a $31,000 grant, is to send every baby born at an Orange County hospital home with a onesie that has "This Side Up… while sleeping" printed on the front.

Thank you, Florida!

Smoking and SIDS; Virginia Launches Campaign to Battle Smoking While Pregnant

2009-06-17T07:24:00.004-04:00

It seems Virginia is about to launch a campaign to educate others about the risk factors of smoking while pregnant. It can cause premature births, low birth weight-- I think it is all on the the side of the cigarette package.

Click here to learn what's about to happen. Renee McCoy Wiggins said she stopped smoking as soon as she learned she was pregnant four months ago.

Here is some information from the article:

The city's infant mortality rate, at 12.4 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2007, is higher than the state average of 7.7 deaths for every 1,000 babies born.

Just as troubling for health officials, though, is the fivefold racial disparity. In Richmond, the infant mortality rate for African-American babies is 19 deaths per 1,000 live births compared with about four deaths per 1,000 live births among whites.

In terms of lives lost, 41 Richmond infants died before reaching age 1 in 2007 -- 36 black and five white.

"There are many things that can impact someone having a healthy birth, and we know that smoking is one of those things," said Rose Stith Singleton of the Richmond Healthy Start Initiative, a Richmond Social Services program.

HCECF, Hayes Foundation Form Partnership to Increase Awareness of SIDS in East Central Florida: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Kicker Matt Bryant Lends Support

2009-06-12T14:50:00.005-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Karen van Caulil, Ph.D. Contact: Sean Ryan

Health Council of East Central Florida, Inc. The Hayes Foundation

407.977.1610 (ext. 222)/kvancaulil@hcecf.org 804.788.1414/sryan@hodgespart.com

HCECF, Hayes Foundation Form Partnership

to Increase Awareness of SIDS in East Central Florida

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Kicker Matt Bryant Lends Support to “This Side Up” Campaign

ORLANDO, June 12, 2009 – The Health Council of East Central Florida (HCECF), the Orange County Healthy Start Coalition, the Orange County Health Department, the 100 Women Strong Giving Circle and The Hayes Foundation today announce the formation of a partnership aimed at raising awareness of SIDS and safe-sleeping practices in Orange County. The Hayes Foundation, based out of Virginia, was started by a woman who lost her child to SIDS.

HCECF will implement The Hayes Foundation’s This Side Up campaign, an educational effort that reminds anyone who looks after a baby (parents, grandparents, siblings and daycare providers) that babies are at less of a risk of SIDS if placed on their backs at nap or bed time. Funded by a grant from the 100 Women Strong, HCECF will distribute the campaign’s educational onesies to all babies born in Orange County hospitals. The onesies read “This Side Up…While Sleeping” on the front and offer additional safe-sleeping tips on the back. The grant funding will cover the costs of the campaign for several months, but the campaign will also include a “pay it forward approach” to the community to continue the distribution of the onesies.

“The onesies are a reminder of a topic that many parents and caregivers are uncomfortable discussing,” said Karen van Caulil, executive director of HCECF. “They are a tangible way to start the conversation about SIDS and safe-sleeping habits for babies. We have seen SIDS deaths occur all too often in our community. It’s our hope to educate and raise awareness of ways we can reduce our risk.”

Added Kyra Oliver, who founded The Hayes Foundation days after her son Hayes died of SIDS at 4½ months: “We are thrilled that the Health Council of East Central Florida is willing to help us spread our message and raise awareness of SIDS. Our vision is to create a world without SIDS, and this partnership will take us one step closer to that goal.”

Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Matt Bryant and his wife Melissa have also joined the effort to spread the This Side Up campaign. The Bryants, known in the Tampa Bay community for their support of children and those in need through the March of Dimes, Special Olympics and Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, among others, lost 3-month-old son Matthew Tryson Bryant to SIDS last September.

“SIDS doesn’t discriminate: It can affect any family at any time,” said Matt Bryant, the Bucs’ 2007 nominee for the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year award for his playing ability and community service. “We are living proof of that and want to remind every parent not to take anything for granted. We hope we can help spread the This Side Up message here in Central Florida, in Tampa Bay and across Florida.”

About 2,500 families in the United States lose a baby to SIDS each year. That’s about half as many deaths related to SIDS as in 1994 when the national Back to Sleep campaign was introduced.

“Although we have seen a decline of SIDS deaths locally in recent years, the rate of sudden unexpected infant deaths in Orange County continues to increase and probably includes babies who were not put to sleep as safely as possible,” Dr. van Caulil said. “We believe this campaign will help educate anyone who looks after a baby of the proper sleeping position and environment.”

The Hayes Foundation introduced the This Side Up campaign in 2006 as an extension of Back to Sleep with the goal of putting a tangible reminder in the hands of those who look after babies. The Hayes Foundation has distributed more than 50,000 onesies in more than 20 hospitals in Virginia and Tennessee and through Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s Smart Beginnings Initiative. In April, it partnered with The Raise Foundation to launch the campaign in Orange County, Calif.

“SIDS continues to puzzle the medical community,” Oliver said. “While it’s not possible to prevent SIDS, research has proven there are factors that can reduce the risk of SIDS. That’s what our campaign is about.”

Oliver’s son Hayes was sleeping on his stomach while at daycare when she got a phone call that he wasn’t breathing. Just as she was getting to know her son, he was gone. In the days following his death, she started The Hayes Foundation in his honor. Since its founding in 2002, the foundation has raised more than $500,000 for SIDS awareness and education.

Organizations interested in learning more about the This Side Up onesies project or who are interested in donating to this important cause can contact the Health Council of East Central Florida at 407.977.1610 for more information.

* * *

About The Health Council of East Central Florida

The Health Council of East Central Florida is 501c3 non-profit organization, the regional health planning agency for Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Brevard counties. HCECF engages in community-based planning that improves health and promotes wellness in the region. HCECF serves as an objective source of healthcare information, fostering community dialogue on contemporary health issues and developing solutions for emerging health needs. For more information, visit www.hcecf.org

About The Hayes Foundation

The Hayes Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was started in 2002 by Kyra Oliver days after her 4½-month-old son Hayes died of SIDS. The foundation, based in Richmond, Va., has raised more than $500,000 for SIDS education and research and has helped raise awareness of SIDS prevention among thousands of families. Its This Side Up campaign launched in March 2006 to educate parents and anyone who cares for a baby that the safest way for babies to sleep is on their backs. For more information, visit www.hayesfoundation.org and www.thissideupcampaign.org.

# # #

Golf Tournament To Raise Money for the Hayes Foundation to Prevent SIDS

2009-05-15T12:58:00.004-04:00

I am in Tennessee, my hometown of Livingston, getting ready for the annual golf tournament to be held tomorrow morning. It is truly amazing to see so many of my friends and family come together, working so hard, to create this event.

This is the 6th annual Hayes Foundation Golf Tourney and I cannot thank all of our volunteers enough for all that they do.

I hope that everyone has a great game!

Kyra

‘This Side Up’ SIDS-awareness campaign goes to California

2009-05-06T19:25:00.007-04:00

We are so proud of our partnership with the Raise Foundation. Special thanks to everyone at Raise, the Hodges Partnership and Richmond Times Dispatch!

Below is what the RTD printed today.

By STAFF REPORTS

Published: May 6, 2009

The Hayes Foundation, a Richmond-based nonprofit organization, has formed a partnership with a California group to raise awareness about sudden infant death syndrome and to promote safe sleeping.

The Raise Foundation of California's Orange County will join the Hayes Foundation's "This Side Up" campaign, which includes distribution of infant body suits imprinted with "This Side Up . . . While Sleeping" on the front and additional safe-sleeping tips on the back.

The suits will be distributed to Orange County hospitals, public-health sites and family resource centers, a spokesman for the Hayes Foundation said this week.

The "This Side Up" campaign, started in Virginia in 2006, aims to educate new parents and caregivers that babies are at less of a risk of SIDS if placed on their backs to sleep. The Hayes Foundation has distributed more than 50,000 body suits across Virginia and Tennessee.

Kyra Oliver founded the Hayes Foundation in 2002 after her son, Hayes, died of SIDS at age 4 months. Find out more at HayesFoundation.org.

-- Bill Lohmann

http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/lifestyles/health_med_fit/medical/article/SIDE06_20090505-223203/266010/

Raise Foundation, Hayes Foundation Form Partnership

2009-05-01T12:50:00.009-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Russell Brammer Contact: Sean Ryan
The Raise Foundation The Hayes Foundation
949.955.1578/russell@theraisefoundation.org 804.788.1414/sryan@hodgespart.com

Raise Foundation, Hayes Foundation Form Partnership

to Increase Awareness of SIDS in Orange County

IRVINE, Calif., April 30, 2009 – The Raise Foundation, Orange County’s Child Abuse Prevention Council, and The Hayes Foundation, started after a Virginia woman lost her baby to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), today announce the formation of a partnership aimed at raising awareness of SIDS and safe-sleeping practices in Orange County.

The Raise Foundation will implement The Hayes Foundation’s This Side Up campaign, an educational effort that reminds anyone who looks after a baby (parents, grandparents, siblings and daycare providers) that babies are at less of a risk of SIDS if placed on their backs at nap or bed time. It will distribute the campaign’s educational onesies – which read “This Side Up…While Sleeping” on the front and offer additional safe-sleeping tips on the back – to Orange County’s area hospitals, public health sites and Family Resource Centers. The Raise Foundation also will serve as the This Side Up campaign’s exclusive partner for distribution to other California counties, hospitals or organizations.

“The onesies are a quick and ever-present reminder of a topic that many parents and caregivers are uncomfortable with,” said Russell Brammer, executive director of The Raise Foundation. “They are a way to start the conversation about SIDS and safe-sleeping habits for babies. It’s our hope that our neighboring counties will find this cause as important as we do.”

Added Kyra Oliver, who founded The Hayes Foundation days after her son Hayes died of SIDS at 4½ months: “We are overwhelmed that The Raise Foundation is willing to help us spread our message and raise awareness of SIDS. Our vision is to create a world without SIDS, and this partnership will take us one step closer to that goal.”

In 1998, The Raise Foundation introduced “A Guide for New Parents,” a nearly 500-page book that provides tips and instructions on raising a baby. While the guide is given free to about 600 parents annually in Orange County, the goal is to distribute it to every parent in the county.

“We see the This Side Up campaign as the perfect complement to what we are doing with the parenting guides,” Brammer said. “Most forms of child abuse and neglect can be prevented through education, and we think the same for SIDS and other infant deaths related to sleeping and sleeping conditions.”

About 2,500 families in the United States lose a baby to SIDS each year. That’s about half as many deaths related to SIDS as in 1994 when the national Back to Sleep campaign was introduced. The Hayes Foundation introduced the This Side Up campaign in 2006 as an extension of Back to Sleep with the goal of putting a tangible reminder in the hands of those who look after babies. The Hayes Foundation has distributed more than 50,000 onesies in more than 20 hospitals in Virginia and Tennessee and through Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine’s Smart Beginnings Initiative.

“SIDS continues to puzzle the medical community,” Oliver said. “While it’s not possible to prevent SIDS, research has proven there are factors that can reduce the risk of SIDS. That’s what our campaign is about.”

Oliver’s son Hayes was sleeping on his stomach while at daycare when she got a phone call that he wasn’t breathing. Just as she was getting to know her son, he was gone. In the days following his death, she started The Hayes Foundation in his honor. Since its founding in 2002, the foundation has raised more than $500,000 for SIDS awareness and education.

Hospitals or organizations interested in obtaining This Side Up onesies (English, Spanish or Vietnamese) can call The Raise Foundation at 949.955.1578 or visit www.theraisefoundation.org <http://www.theraisefoundation.org> for more information.

* * *

About The Raise Foundation
The Raise Foundation is Orange County’s Child Abuse Prevention Council as officially designated by the Orange County Board of Supervisors in 1974. We became incorporated as a private nonprofit 501(c)3 agency in 1987. Our Mission is to stop the cycle of child abuse through leadership, education, advocacy, community collaboration, comprehensive services and through our role as Orange County’s officially designated Child Abuse Prevention Council. Our Vision: The elimination of child abuse in Orange County.

We fulfill our Mission by attacking the problem of child abuse through a multidimensional strategy, recognizing that no single approach and no single agency can solve this problem alone. Our strategy includes providing direct services to at-risk families in order to give parents more tools to cope with the challenges of parenting and the stresses of life. We collaborate with other agencies and organizations in programs to prevent child abuse to minimize duplication of services and maximize use of limited resources. We convene the Prevent Child Abuse Network each month. This Network is comprised of agencies, organizations, businesses, and individuals who are committed to eliminating child abuse in Orange County. We conduct public awareness campaigns like our campaign to increase knowledge of the Safe Surrender Law. We provide the public with educational forums, such as our annual Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Conference. Through our Parent Education Program, “Helping Parents Raise Happy Families,” we provide parents with the tools they need to parent their children safely and effectively in times of stress and frustration. For more information, visit www.theraisefoundation.org <http://www.theraisefoundation.org/> .

About The Hayes Foundation
The Hayes Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was started in 2002 by Kyra Oliver days after her 4½-month-old son Hayes died of SIDS. The foundation, based in Richmond, Va., has raised more than $500,000 for SIDS education and research and has helped raise awareness of SIDS prevention among thousands of families. Its This Side Up campaign launched in March 2006 to educate parents and anyone who cares for a baby that the safest way for babies to sleep is on their backs. For more information, visit www.hayesfoundation.org <http://www.hayesfoundation.org/> and www.thissideupcampaign.org <http://www.thissideupcampaign.org/> .

# # #

Re: Hayes Foundation Press Conference: Orange County Register Mention

2009-04-28T18:39:00.003-04:00

Good Afternoon,

Many of you know that we have formed a new partnership to launch the This Side Up campaign in Orange County, California taking things to a national level. I am heading to LA to take part in a press conference on Thursday that will announce the launch. Hopefully we will get air time on all of the TV stations in the LA and surrounding area.

We are already getting some coverage!
We’re up and running on a blog on the OC Register.

http://healthyliving.freedomblogging.com/2009/04/28/babies-to-model-sids-prevention/5297/

Please share this with your friends.

Best,
Kyra Oliver
Founder and Chairman of the Board
Hayes Foundation
www.hayesfoundation.org

It's Maui at Midnight, Baby--SIDS Event for Awareness

2009-04-15T11:52:00.002-04:00

As April 18th approaches, the night of our annual fundraiser, I give thanks to the wonderful and amazing people who have put so much time and effort in helping us put on this event. I am overwhelmed with the generosity of time our volunteers have given and are still giving!

Thank you all so much. This night is not just about raising money so that we can continue our This Side Up program to promote SIDS awareness, but it is also about letting people know that SIDS is real. It happened to me. There will be another SIDS parent, Heather Kiegel who lost her daughter to SIDS not long ago, at the event. She also started a foundation in honor of her baby, Gwyneth. SIDS is something we do not want anyone else to experience. This is not about Hayes, this is about all of the babies in our community, in our nation, in our world.

With the utmost respect and appreciation, I thank you all.

Is Risk of SIDS Higher When Infant Sleeps Away From Home?

2009-04-06T20:37:00.005-04:00

Hayes died while at his caregiver's home. I don't know if his death is associated with that. He was also on his tummy while taking a nap. I don't know about that either. SIDS is a category for when we don't know why they died. There is no known cause. Teh good news is that research is being conducted.

Investigators in Germany noted have several risk factors for SIDS, one of which is sleeping away from home. You can read the article here.

"This study in general," the investigators conclude, "supports the current recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics," which call for parents put infants to sleep on their backs as opposed to their stomachs.

Don't Let Your Baby Sleep In Your Bed

2009-01-27T09:21:00.003-05:00

The Washington Post published an article yesterday regarding co-sleeping. They shared the many reasons this happens from lower socio-economic families who do not even have cribs to the need for bonding.

"Strangulation deaths are going up and bed-sharing is going up," said John Kattwinkel of the University of Virginia, who chared and American Academy of Pediatrics panel that recommended against bed-sharing in 2005. "It's certainly logical to draw a conclusion that there is a link. Parents should not bed-share with their babies."

There are many countries who practice co-sleeping with their infants. This article, however, was published in June 2008 sharing information about deaths in Tasmania.

While we would all like to think that we have control while we are sleeping. It isn't the case. Hayes slept in the bed with many on many nights. It was easy for me and made Hayes feel comfortable being next to mom. But it was unsafe. It was a risk. And it did not promote independence for Hayes. I was lucky that he did not die in my bed. If you think it cannot happen to you, think again. I thought the same thing. Learn as much as you can and try to be a good parent by practicing what is best for you and your baby. It could save their life.

Hayes' Best Friend Ice Skates

2008-12-22T15:18:00.003-05:00

I went to see a friends' daughter at her ice skating recital. What an amazing performance. Seriously, this 6 year old is amazing. What was even more amazing was that I made it through that performance. I was filled with anxiety about going. This talented girl was born just 2 weeks before Hayes. Her mother and I were pregnant together and had dreams of sharing experiences with our children.

I was so proud of her. Yet I could not help but think of Hayes the entire time- wishing I were watching him do his thing, whatever that may be. While being proud of this little girl, I was also proud of Hayes for giving me the strength to be there. I cried so hard as she was finishing her performance. I missed him so much. But it felt good. I felt as though I had embraced that fear and that I now can work with it. It may take more time and practice, but I know more about how it feels. I did it. I went to that performance.

When you are ready, you will know. No need to rush. Your friends will understand. And sometimes, you have to be brave and just do it. You can always make sure that you have an escape if you need it. It is ok to cry, to escape and it is ok if you don't. Just be in the moment.

Safe Sleeping

2008-11-30T11:20:00.002-05:00

I am so happy to hear that the SIDS Network of Kansas received a grant to distribute new cribs to their community. This is important for many reasons: 1). It sends the message that safe sleeping is an issue, 2). it tells us that our community needs help and 3). it shows what support from any commuity can do.

Kansas is listed as having the 6th highest rate of SIDS in 2006. The fact that they are doing something about it is phenominal. Safe sleeping is so critical, from having the proper bedding and sleeping arrangements to knowing how to position your baby for sleep.

Missing My Baby

2008-11-28T13:51:00.005-05:00

I miss Hayes so much. There. I said it. And you can too. The holidays is a very tough time because we feel so much more pain. We miss our loved ones.

It takes alot of effort to feel. But it is important to do this. It does not mean that you have to sit in a corner and mope. Well, you can if you want. But, going for a walk and talking to yourself is fine. Or writing about how you feel in a diary is fine. Invite a family member to take a walk with you and share your feelings. It is ok. And it will feel good.

One thing that I have learned recently is to ask for help. It may be hard to do this because we don't want to bother others. But often they don't know that you want to talk. Let them know. They will listen.

Hayes died of SIDS a little over 6 years ago. I can only imagine how much fun it would be to see him here with our family. I will continue to grieve in the best way I know how. I have learned to live with it as time goes on, but that does not mean that the pain goes away. It really is just that-- I have learned to live with it. Living with it means addressing it, not ignoring it. Ignoring it is not living with it. Remember that it is ok to grieve.

Support That Is Bigger than Life, Or Is That What Life Is

2008-11-20T10:27:00.003-05:00

I could only imagine the support and camaraderie that one experiences while running a marathon until Saturday, November 15, 2008. I have trouble explaining the most beautifully intense moments during my race. Seeing my friends as they passed me water, my training buddies meeting me, unexpectedly, at key points on the route to run with me, helping to pace me so that I would not go too fast (I was going too fast...). But then, one particular period in time that was filled with even more elation was at mile 20. I noticed someone was running next to me in cowboy boots. I recall thinking how odd it was. I looked up to see my brother and his son who had driven 9 hours to support me.

I have always been into fitness but have only dreamt of the level of fitness at which I am today. It took me awhile before I would start exercising again after Hayes died. A couple of friends encouraged me. My business coach pushed me as she saw me tearing up every time we talked. I had a lot of anxiety. Every detail of my life seemed enormous. Another friend bought me a pedometer. I began to live and breathe by that thing. I wore it everywhere. That is when I started walking and that quickly turned into running. I wanted more.
What I found was the therapy that it provided. I run first thing in the morning so that 1). Nothing else gets in the way of this important activity for my health and 2). It can provide me with my own time to think. Just think. I solve a lot of problems during this time and then I am ready for my day.

I was asked by a few other friends if I wanted to start running with them. Next, they asked me if I wanted to start training with them. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but I went with it. Seven months later, I run a marathon and qualify for Boston. Emotions are overflowing. Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4aJxc76jUU

Notice in this video that I say “…and I thank everybody for helping me…”

It truly amazes me how we can come together to help one another. I am so incredibly grateful. I have had this same support since the death of my child, Hayes. The beauty is realizing the love that we have as human beings. A true statement to our ability to live.

A Few Simple Steps...SIDS

2008-10-27T13:21:00.004-04:00

Thanks to the Richmond Times Dispatch for including our Commentary in the Sunday paper. We hope to help others by sharing information when we get it.

You can see the article here.
http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/opinion/commentary.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-10-26-0067.html

"What makes SIDS all the more maddening is that it knows no cure: The first symptom is death.
SIDS doesn't discriminate, robbing parents from all walks of life of their bundles of joy as they are just getting to know them. While SIDS occurs more in lower-income families, Los Angeles Lakers star Lamar Odom lost a son to SIDS in 2006, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Matt Bryant's son died several weeks ago unexpectedly, most likely of SIDS (the cause of death has yet to be determined)."

It doesn't matter who you are. You should be aware so that it doesn't happen to you and your family.

Reducing the Risk: Fans and SIDS

2008-10-21T18:11:00.009-04:00

A recent study revealed that putting a fan in your baby’s room might reduce the risk of SIDS by 72 percent. What’s more, Newsweek reported of another study by the journal Pediatrics that 25 percent of parents of 3-month-olds still aren’t following the recommendation that babies sleep on their backs. The majority of SIDS deaths occur when a baby is 2 to 4 months old.

This number is alarmingly high – in light of the fact that “Back to Sleep” has been suggested since 1994 – and is exactly why we believe there needs to be more education and why we started the This Side Up campaign. If 25 percent of parents don’t know babies are safest from SIDS when sleeping on their backs, wouldn’t you expect the number to be much higher for grandparents? Baby sitters? Daycare providers?

Celebrity Moms for SIDS

2008-10-21T17:59:00.009-04:00

October is SIDS Awareness Month. I was excited to hear about the Style My Stroller Campaign – an effort by the CJ Foundation for SIDS to raise awareness of SIDS.

Maclaren donated strollers, which were designed by Angie Harmon (who is expecting her third child), Tori Spelling (who welcomed her second baby in June), Ashlee Simpson and Marissa Jaret Winokur and auctioned off from Oct. 6-13. We’re still waiting to see the finished designs and hear about how much was raised.

Starting a SIDS conversation

2008-10-21T17:04:00.008-04:00

In memory of my son, Hayes Hitzeman, I envision a future in which no parent loses a child to SIDS - Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

I began the Hayes Foundation in 2002 days after Hayes' untimely and heartbreaking passing with the goal of raising awareness of SIDS and helping to further research so that we all might understand how to help prevent babies dying from this unexplained disease. One of the Hayes Foundation's major efforts is the This Side Up campaign, which is helping to distribute educational baby garments in hospitals across Virginia and Tennessee so that parents and caregivers will understand that the safest way for a baby to sleep is on his back.

As I begin this blog, though, I invite you to come back often for updates on SIDS research, the This Side Up campaign, and most importantly, to help create a community where we can spread the word about ways to reduce the risk of SIDS.