Hello , my name is Marie Reen and I want to share with you my son's story.
Jimmy was born on April 11,1997 at 7:17 in the morning. He was three days late but boy did he arrive quickly. We got to the hospital and he was born 45 minutes later. He was 8 lbs 7 oz and 22 inches long. He was our second child. My husband Jim & I also have a daughter Shannon Elizabeth who was 19 months old when Jimmy was born. She loves her brother. He was "my baby" as she would say. We were so blessed.
We had been married for 4 years and had a beautiful daughter & son. Jimmy was a happy baby. He was a good sleeper & eater. He loved to watch his sister. He was always smiling. He would love to play with his sister and of course she would always say mom Jimmy has my toys! He was so easygoing. He loved to play on the floor and roll the ball back & forth. He also loved to go on the swings. He also never liked to sit still. He was always trying to catch up to his sister! Jimmy came from a big family . My husband has three brothers and three sisters and I have two brothers . We all live in the same town so everybody got to see the kids every week. Jimmy gave a lot of love to everyone. He would always give everyone a smile. He was such a flirt! He was a healthy child.
My worst nightmare came on May 8 ,1998. It was a regular day. I went with my daughter Shannon to get Jimmy from his nap. I walked in and all I could see was his feet. He was wrapped in the fitted crib sheet. I took him from his crib and unwrapped the sheet to find my child lifeless and blue. I put him on the floor. He wasn't breathing and I couldn't get a pulse. I called 911 and the EMTs were here within 2 minutes. One of the EMTs was a friend of ours. They took Jimmy out to the ambulance and I called my husband and my parents. I went to the hospital and into the room with Jimmy along with my father. My husband arrived a short time later. I honestly thought Jimmy would be okay. The doctor said are you the parents ? When she said I'm sorry there is nothing more we can do I couldn't believe it. Not my Jimmy. How could God do this? He was just a baby.
All of our family had arrived at the hospital and we spent the next few hours holding our son. I kept saying he looks like he's sleeping. I was in such a fog. I have never felt such a sadness. It is something that is always with me. Jimmy was always a bundle of energy and full of life. In the year that we had him he gave so much joy to everyone. We all miss him deeply. There is a void in all our lives that will never be filled.
Please check out my page on crib sheet safety for more information on crib sheets. I am hoping that this will never happen to another child again. There were other cases prior to Jimmy and it saddens me to think that when I had my babies in 1995 & 1997 I wasn't aware that these fitted crib sheets could be a hazard. I want to make sure we get regulations on crib sheets and that this doesn't happen to another baby.
When Jimmy died we had decided to start a playground fund in his memory. One of his favorite things to do was play on the swings. We wanted to have something physical to remember him by, something that many other children would get enjoyment from in the same way he did. Jimmy was also a heart valve donor. We feel he will live on, in that through his donation he saved the lives of three other babies. We love you and miss you Jimmy. Love Mom, Dad & Shannon
Anyone wishing to make a donation to the James Gerard Reen III Playground Fund can mail it to:
