SUDC
Why We’re Supporting the SUDC Foundation
When Violet died, we were left with shock, sorrow—and no answers. She was healthy. She was thriving. She had just learned to walk. There was no warning, no known cause, no explanation for why our bright, beautiful 15-month-old daughter went to sleep and never woke up.
Eventually, we learned a name for what had happened: Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood, or SUDC.
SUDC refers to the sudden and unexpected death of a child over 12 months old that remains unexplained even after a thorough investigation, including an autopsy, medical history review, and scene examination. It is extremely rare, deeply misunderstood, and devastatingly real.
We found the SUDC Foundation by chance—through a few strangers, other bereaved parents, who happened to mention it. Before that, we had never heard of SUDC, and neither had most of the professionals around us. It was something we had to search for on our own, in the dark.
Now, with the Foundation’s help, we hope to create a portfolio of information and resources to share with hospitals, first responders, and trauma workers—so that future families don’t have to hunt like we did. No one should be left to grieve in confusion and isolation, without even a name for what they’re facing.
The SUDC Foundation is the only organization in the world dedicated solely to this cause. They are entirely privately funded, and yet they provide support in every direction: information, community, books, bereavement materials, even help with understanding autopsy results. They also connect families through private networks of support—people who truly understand because they’ve lived it too. Their work is quiet but essential—filling in the gaps where the system falls short.
They helped us feel less alone. They gave us words when we had none. And they continue to fight for answers, awareness, and care for families like ours.
To learn more about SUDC or to donate directly, please visit sudc.org