24-03-2025
Connecticut Families: Milford mom and pediatrician raises awareness of SUDC, Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood
ORANGE, Conn. (WTNH) — Many of us have heard of SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome but a Milford mom is raising awareness of a lesser-known tragedy called SUDC, Sudden Unexplained Death In Childhood.
'Conor was the happiest boy you'd ever meet, he was always smiling, he was always blowing kisses,' Dr. Erin Bowen, Conor's mom and also a pediatrician in Orange, said.
But the unimaginable happened in 2016.
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When the boy was 17 months old he had a runny nose, really nothing out of the ordinary. He went down for a nap.
'He was a healthy toddler who went to sleep and just didn't wake up,' Bowen said.
This is called Sudden Unexplained Death In Childhood or SUDC.
Even though she's a doctor, Bowen had never heard of this happening. Both an autopsy and genetic testing didn't yield any answers.
'It affects about 500 children annually in the United States and it's actually the 5th leading cause of death in toddlers,' Bowen explained.
Through her grief, she connected with the SUDC Foundation, meeting other families with similar stories, and even heading to Washington DC to advocate for change.
'Currently there's no federal funding to support research into these deaths,' she said.
Bowen gives presentations at hospitals, raising awareness and educating medical professionals about how to support families when a child dies.
She also started Kisses For Conor, giving out special cards, doing random acts of kindness as a way to help her daughters cope with their loss.
'Sometimes we leave flowers in parking lots for people to find,' Bowen said. 'We leave toys in the park. Sometimes we leave bubbles because Conor loved bubbles so much.'
Bowen says Conor is with her, always.
'Doing these things is kind of my way of parenting him where I can't physically parent him and it makes me feel like we're still connected every day,' she said with emotion.
If you get a Kisses For Conor card, you are asked to keep his memory alive by passing along your own act of kindness.
Watch an extended interview with Dr. Erin Bowen on Tuesday, March 25th at 11 a.m. on the new News 8 streaming app.
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