Senate Resolution No. 4531

BY: Senator LANZA

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
March 2018 as Sudden Unexplained Death in Children
(SUDC) Awareness Month in the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official days that are set aside to increase awareness of serious
illnesses that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 2018 as Sudden
Unexplained Death in Children (SUDC) Awareness Month in the State of New
York, in conjunction with the observance of National SUDC Awareness
Month; and

WHEREAS, SUDC is the unexpected death of a child over the age of
twelve months, which remains unexplained after a thorough case
investigation is conducted; similar to SIDS, SUDC is a diagnosis of
exclusion, given when all known and possible causes of death have been
ruled out; and

WHEREAS, By definition, SIDS applies only to the death of babies
younger than 12 months, while SUDC victims are children past their first
birthday whose deaths go unexplained even after an autopsy, a death
scene investigation and medical history review; and

WHEREAS, SUDC is not new, but is rare with a reported incidence of
1.2 deaths per 100,000 children, compared to 54 deaths per 100,000 live
births for SIDS (United States, 2005); presently, SUDC cannot be
predicted and/or prevented since its cause is unknown; and

WHEREAS, Established in the fall of 2001, the SUDC Foundation offers
no cost services to families who have lost a child for an unexplained
reason; this vital organization provides grants for and conducts
research which will further our understanding of these mysterious
deaths; and

WHEREAS, Currently, the SUDC Foundation supports over 800 families
in 18 countries by providing personalized, comprehensive care from
licensed clinical social workers, and cultivates a community of support
for bereaved families so that no one has to grieve alone; and

WHEREAS, The Foundation also assists families in accessing research
and DNA banking services which could possibly lead to answers on what
may have happened to their child; and

WHEREAS, Every year, at least 400 children are lost to SUDC, which
is the fifth leading cause of death among children between the ages of
one and four; and

WHEREAS, Such was the case for young Lily Jo Jurgens, a perfectly
healthy girl who, at two years old, suddenly collapsed and passed away

on June 15, 2015; after her autopsy, it was determined she had succumbed
to SUDC; and

WHEREAS, The family of Lily Jo Jurgens along with other families
from different parts of New York State are struggling to cope with this
difficult situation as they have similar stories; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this serious health crisis, and more must be done to increase activity
at the State, local and national levels; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim March 2018 as Sudden
Unexplained Death in Children (SUDC) Awareness Month in the State of New
York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.