Just yesterday a news story was reported about the passing of Lamar Odom's baby boy. Preliminary reports on all news outlets reported "suffocation" as the cause. I was glad to see that today the "headliner" was revised to "dies while sleeping" - pending autopsy results.
One local news outlet attributed SIDS as the possible cause. Since Lorenzo's passing it was the first time I had heard SIDS information broadcast within a "news story". Actually, this was broadcast in a health segment and not made into a sports story. I sat and watched as information I was so familiar with was broadcast. It's obvious that my pain is very personal, but last night I cried for a family that I did not even know. It did not matter that Dad is a Laker, all that mattered was that somewhere, once again, a family has lost their precious angel.
Since Lorenzo's passing I've often wondered where the SIDS public awareness news stories where. But the truth is if a story was broadcast on the news in length about SIDS it would mean that someone in the public eye had too lost their child. Never wishing the same experience for any family, I've often tried to justify the reason we don't hear about SIDS in the news is because it's not happening. My right mind tells me that I know better than that, it happens, but is too much for anyone to comprehend better yet report on.
It is important to note that the cause of the passing of baby Odom, respectfully, has not been officially determined. I stress this because there is nothing like hearing "speculation" in an instance such as this, especially when the reference is to your child, there is not a more personal matter.
That their light may always shine...
