Family Wants To Turn SIDS Heartache Into Hope For Others

Families across America lit candles Sunday night in honor of babies lost to SIDS. One Green Country family is reliving their loss.<br/><br/>News on 6 reporter Joshua Brakhage went to Hominy and found

Sunday, October 15th 2006, 8:52 pm

By: News On 6

Families across America lit candles Sunday night in honor of babies lost to SIDS. One Green Country family is reliving their loss.

News on 6 reporter Joshua Brakhage went to Hominy and found how they want to turn their heartache into hope.

Martin and Candi Maynard couldn't have been more proud of their fourth little bundle of joy, Bailey.

Martin Maynard says, "she was two months old and she was just starting to develop a little personality of her own, you know. And she had a little smile, she was just starting to do."

And in a moment, that smile vanished.

"Nothing could help you handle the death of a baby," says Candi Maynard.

Candi found Bailey in her crib, and immediately called Martin at work.

"We both experienced it. We both did," said Martin. "Did I wrap the baby too tight? You know? Did I lay her wrong?"

Bailey was a victim of SIDS - Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Her parents say they wouldn't trade a day of the two months they had with Bailey. In fact, they say those two months have changed the rest of their family's lives.

"You cherish every minute you have with your children," Candi says. "And sometimes we took for granted, a lot of time."

In the year-and-a-half since the Maynards lost Bailey, they've given birth to another daughter - Haven.

Candi remembers, "we were nervous parents, I'll tell you that. We checked her breathing every 20 minutes, if less than that."

Her parents say Haven reminds them of Bailey, and the lessons they learned about how precious life is. Martin and Candi say they've been through the pain. Now they want to leave other families with the hope of life after SIDS.

Martin says, "I don't feel like the loss is for nothing, you know, something can be gained from this if we can reach someone else and help them."

The Maynards say they've had a hard time finding a support group around Tulsa for other SIDS families. Oklahoma City has an active group that held a SIDS walk Sunday night.

Martin Maynard says he wants to have a walk in Tulsa, an online forum, and an active support group here by this time next year.

The Maynards hope other families in their situation contact them to get things started. You can e-mail them at maynard.martin@gmail.com, or contact our reporter Joshua Brakhage at joshua.brakhage@newson6.net.