The loss of a child is a nightmare no parent ever wants to imagine will happen. Many times, we push dark thoughts away thinking it will never happen to our children. We pray it doesn’t. But sometimes, unfortunately, the nightmare becomes reality. If there were a chance that you could prevent this tragedy and save your child, would you take it? One mother we spoke with certainly would. Katelyn Shelton and her husband, Paul, recently lost their 5-month-old son, Bartley, to SIDS. While there was nothing these
parents could have done more to prevent their loss, Katelyn says that if she hadn’t known how to perform CPR in an effort to save her child, the guilt would consume her. Below is her story:
”May 24, 2019, I brought my son, Bartley Carter Shelton, into this world. For most, what should be a joyous occasion quickly turned into a nightmare. Along with Bartley being five weeks early, his cord was also wrapped around his neck. This created problems with his breathing, therefore, it was decided that he would be sent to East Tennessee Children's Hospital. Along the way, by the grace of God, he was weened from the oxygen. He still had jaundice and issues eating, so we had almost a ten day stay. June 3rd, 2019, we were able to be discharged after meeting certain requirements. One of those requirements was to complete a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation course, also known as CPR. We were not required to be certified, just to take the class and learn. I remember telling my husband, "I NEVER want to have to do this on my own child." Upon completion, we were discharged and headed home.
Only ten days later I thought I was going to have to put that knowledge to use. My son wouldn't eat and when I woke him to make him, he started gasping for air. His color had already started to change so we headed straight for the ER. Once again, we were sent to the pediatric floor of ETCH. We learned my son‘s CO2 levels were elevated as well as having pneumonia. We stayed for almost two weeks. We came home and you would never have known we went through what we did. He was eating, gaining weight, and smiling like crazy. He had discovered he could cackle and was working on sitting up. October 24, he turned five months old. He was excelling in life. Despite that, only two days later, we woke up to every parent‘s nightmare.
My husband found our son blue and he was not breathing. My husband woke me up yelling. At first glance I thought he was choking. Only then did I realize how bad it was. I grabbed my son and laid him on my bed. He was cool to the touch, but I did what I never wanted to do. I performed CPR on my five month old son. Unfortunately, my son was already gone when I performed CPR. He had passed between 2:00am and 6:45am. With an immense amount of heartache, we laid him to rest October 30, 2019.
Looking back my only regret is not staying with him in the hospital room longer. One thing I am grateful for is having known how to perform CPR. While it did not work on my son as he had already been gone to long, it may help someone else. Ask yourself, "If my baby quite breathing in front of me would I know what to do?" It is not something most people do not want to think about. While there is a small chance of it having to be done, there is still a chance. I can look back and say that I tried everything. Had I not done it or known how, I have no doubt in my mind I would have an immense amount of guilt along with my heartache.
Motherly Love has been kind enough to start classes if enough people are interested. I highly recommend taking the class so that in the event of something happening you know how to respond. Would you rather have a fifty percent chance of saving your child or a zero percent chance? From a mother who has experienced a great loss and experienced a nightmare. Please consider taking this class.”
Since the devastating loss of her son, Katelyn has made it her mission to promote SIDS awareness and ensure that her son’s death brings meaning by spreading his love and smiles to others.
Motherly Love is in the process of forming the first CPR night for the local communities of Newport, Greeneville, Morristown, and other surrounding areas. If you are interested in attending, please contact Motherly Love via Facebook, email, phone, or fill out a sign up form on our website!
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