My son, Giancarlo, passed away on January 5, just one day shy of twelve weeks old. He died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), commonly known as crib death. SIDS is the number one killer of babies between the ages of 1 month and 1 year, and approximately 7,000 infants die from it in America each year. SIDS victims appear perfectly healthy prior to death. SIDS cannot be predicted or prevented, even those times when a doctor has been present. It is not caused by suffocation, is not contagious or genetic, and does not cause pain or suffering. Although researchers have ideas for how one might reduce risk factors, no one presently knows how to prevent it. This is all that is currently known about this terrible syndrome.
We have all, in our own way, worked very hard to be part of our WPI community. Because of my loss, I have learned how strong our community can be. I hope that others take this opportunity to reflect on life, loved ones, and to be thankful for the support of others. In the future, I would like to work with student projects that deal with the medical, informational, and monitoring aspects of SIDS. For example, when and how should statistical findings be made available to the public? What happens when pediatricians disagree with recommended procedures? Can specific monitoring devices be designed? If you are interested, please contact me.
-Prof. Denise Nicoletti, ECE nicolett@ee, x5257, AK216