SIDS tragedy unites mother, 6-year-old son

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

When Amanda Swett went to pick up her 10-week-old baby, Brayden Josiah, on the morning of July Fourth, she found that he looked like a ghost.

“He was completely white,” Swett said. “I screamed at the top of my lungs and called 911.”

The ambulance came and “picked him up like a football,” she said. He was revived five times at Florida Hospital Flagler before it was decided that he had to be flown to Jacksonville. He died at 2:07 p.m. on the flight. The cause of death was sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS.

Swett’s 6-year-old son, Jayden, was in the home when it all began. A week later, mother and son and other family visiting from Connecticut attended the funeral, which was paid for in part by donations of $2,430 from the community via an online fundraiser. Swett, who attended Flagler Palm Coast High School and has lived in Palm Coast for 12 years, said she is no longer seeking donations.

In addition to the emotional support from her family, Swett has also spoken with another friend who had a child die of SIDS in her arms and another friend who had a stillborn child.

“It’s been devastating,” she said. “I’ve been sick to my stomach every day, grieving. It’s always worse at night. I’m expecting to wake up with the baby and have to feed him. He was such a loving baby. When he was in his swing, he would pout if I would walk by.”

Now that her extended family has returned home to Connecticut, Swett is left with her memories of her infant. “I talk to him all the time,” she said. “Even though he’s not personally here, I talk to him. I just think he’s listening to me. … I think of his smile. He just started learning how to smile.”

While she said she is still in shock from Brayden’s death, Swett said the tragedy has reminded her how important it is to enjoy every moment with Jayden. She said they comfort each other. Jayden hugs his mother more than ever now and tells her to “stay strong.”

“He has been my strength,” Swett said. “I hold him close every day. I make sure I tell him a thousand times a day, and tell him I love him, and I’ll hold him on my lap, and hold him tight so he knows I love him.”