Late baby Tadhg honoured in Ruan run to raise awareness of SIDS

CHRISTMAS Eve 2012 is a night that Elaine and William Lynch will never forget. The Ruan couple were getting ready to celebrate the season. Their two little boys were waiting for Santa.

What should have been the happiest night of the year took a tragic turn when the couple discovered that eight-month old Tadhg had stopped breathing. Despite the best efforts of Elaine and her sister-in-law Patricia, both nurses, and the help of paramedics, Tadhg was lost to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

A decade later, the family of five thinks fondly of Tadhg every day. In April, when Tadhg would have been celebrating his tenth birthday, the Lynchs are organising a fundraising run.

The ’10 for Tadhg’ fundraiser takes place on April 10 at 10am and will see people run and walk 10km from the GAA pitch in Ruan and back. The event will raise funds for Féileacáin and The Children’s Hospital at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) and will also raise awareness of SIDS.

“Tadhg was a really healthy, happy boy,” Elaine said. “He was eight months and three days old and I think most people believe this is something that only affects younger babies.”

SIDS is unexpected, unexplained and affects children who show no signs or symptoms in advance. Elaine and William recalled that Tadhg was in great form, enjoying the company close family ahead of Christmas Day.

“Tadhg was in brilliant form and went to bed on Christmas Eve at 9pm,” Elaine said. “William looked in on him at 9.40pm and we knew immediately that something was wrong. We started CPR straight away.”

William recalls driving to meet the ambulance at Fountain Cross and then the rush to Limerick.

“I realised when I got there that I wasn’t even wearing any shoes,” he said.

At UHL, Dr John Twomey of The Children’s Ark, was on duty. “Everyone did everything possible,” Elaine said.

“I knew instinctively it was bad. It was awful. We had been getting ready for Santa and the next thing we were at the hospital.

“Of all the nights, Christmas Eve is a night for children and we were putting our son into a little white coffin. You fear something like this, but you never think that it will happen. The medics told us we had done everything possible, but it was still so hard.”

The family’s courage in coming to terms with their loss is bolstered by their happy memories of a bubbly little boy. “His life was short but happy and we packed in a lot,” William said.

“We visited Donegal and we had a holiday in Kenmare. I brought Tadhg and his big brother Cillian to Dublin Zoo, so I have lovely memories of us as three boys on a day out.”

Elaine said the family particularly appreciates photos taken before that Christmas.

“We were given a gift voucher, which turned out to be such a special thing because we got a lovely portrait done,” she said. “That’s truly precious. When we look at it we see such joy and we think of Tadhg every single day.”

Tadhg will also be remembered in the rainbow symbol created for the ’10 for Tadhg’ event. “Cillian’s teacher told us that he saw a rainbow one day and said, “There’s my brother Tadhg making rainbows’,” William said.

A decade after their devastating loss, the family have learned a lot about grief and the need to support those going through it. “I always say now that grief is not linear,” Elaine explained.

“You can have a good day and then a really, really bad day. We had amazing support from family, friends and colleagues. People don’t always know what to say, but it’s so important to talk. Féileacáin support people affected by the death of a baby during or after pregnancy. If they had a meeting point in Clare, that would really make it easier for people. The Children’s Ark also has amazing facilities and we every donation will really make a difference.”

Right now, it’s all systems go for April 10. “We’re still tracking down an ice cream stand and a barbecue,” William said. “My colleagues at Cully Automation have been very supportive. Some of them will be coming so we’ll be giving them Clare hospitality and making sure they’re not going home hungry.”

10 for Tadhg is set to be a celebration and an opportunity to give back. “We do want to remember Tadhg’s short live in a really positive way,” William said. “We are so grateful to so many people who helped us. My sister Patricia was amazing. Everyone from the paramedics to the undertakers couldn’t have been better. The list is endless. You never forget those people who help you when you need it.”

Full details on the run and on donating to ’10 for Tadhg’ are available on iDonate.ie, by searching for ‘In Memory of Tadhg Lynch’.