Christopher James McConville
Born: July, 1996
On July 2, 1996, our family was blessed with the arrival of our second son, Christopher James; a beautiful, healthy baby boy whose smile lit up the room like sunshine so our lives seemed perfect. On December 2, 1996, Christopher's five month birthday, our world was shattered when we lost our precious baby to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Losing Christopher to SIDS has without a doubt been the most difficult thing we as parents have ever experienced. SIDS has taken us on a journey that we would never have envisioned ourselves taking. This "journey of recovery" initially began with us wondering, "Why?" and "How could life go on without our little sunshine?" Without answers, our family felt powerless.
On our search for answers, we were fortunate to encounter the CJ Foundation for SIDS. Through support services for bereaved families funded by the CJ Foundation, we began to understand our pain and learn how to channel our grief into something positive. Although our precious Christopher lived for only 5 short months, we were certain that if he had been given the chance to live a full life, he would have done much good and made a difference in the world. Inspired by Christopher's spirit, we became determined to play a major role in the eradication of SIDS by becoming involved in the Foundation's fundraising efforts, along with their mission to educate the public on how to reduce the risk of SIDS.
In 1998, we initiated an annual memorial golf outing in memory of Christopher. Over the past 9 years, thanks to those who have supported our efforts, we have raised over $910,000 for the CJ Foundation for SIDS. These much needed funds have given us the power to find answers to our questions and contribute to a future where every child has the opportunity to live life to its fullest.
As we continue to live our life without "our little sunshine", we feel a "ray of hope" as we join with the CJ Foundation in the battle against SIDS. Together, we will make a difference in the life of a child!
-- Jennifer McConville, Butler, NJ
