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Awesome Mama: Meet Cindy Reher

May 12, 2016
One of our favorite things about publishing Macaroni Kid is the chance to connect with other moms in our community.  Often times these connections inspire us and remind us of the ability of one person to make a difference.  It is with this in mind that we launch a new article series called Awesome Mama.  Our hope is to introduce you to some amazing moms living right in our communities who not only are doing unique and wonderful things but also deserve to have some attention brought to their mission.

It's unimaginable for most.  It's devastating and heartbreaking to those who experience it.  But the truth of the matter is that about 4,200 sudden unexpected infant deaths per year occur in the United States—half are caused by Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. In fact, according to the CDC, SIDS is the leading cause of infant death from 1–12 months old.  Every day six families in the United States face this nightmare. 

In October of 2012 the Reher family became one of those families when their beautiful 4 1/2 month old daughter, Anneliese, died during a nap.  Out of such a terrible loss, the loss of a baby born healthy and gone without an explanation, emerged a local mom on a mission to raise awareness of SIDS and money for SIDS research.

Cindy Reher is that mom.  Four years ago, along with her friend Tiffany, she started Strollin' to Fight SIDS, an annual family 5K walk.  Please take a few minutes to read her story and find out how you can support her mission!
What is your MISSION? What do you want to accomplish?
My mission is to spread awareness of the tragedy that is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.  Safe sleep practices are important, but ultimately even they can't prevent a baby from dying of SIDS. There is a desperate need for research into the medical causes of SIDS so that at-risk babies can be found before SIDS strikes. We are supporting groundbreaking research at Seattle Children's Hospital via SIDS Research Guild with Strollin' to Fight SIDS this year. All proceeds will directly benefit this promising research.

Ultimately, Strollin' to Fight SIDS is not just about raising monetary funds for research.  That is of course a priority, but also as important is the support that we can offer other families who are grieving the loss of their babies.  Losing a child is one of the worst things that can happen to a family.  It is often a taboo subject in our society, leaving families feeling alone and with no where to turn.  When my daughter died in 2012, I had never met, or even heard of anyone losing a child to SIDS.  When I tried to find local support groups I was shocked to find that there were none.  Slowly through the years word has spread about our event.  I have also created an online private Facebook group for Washington State SIDS families that others can request to join.  My goal is to make a difference for others in my daughter's memory, both through supporting other families through our event, and also through supporting research with the goal that one day no other family will know the pain of SIDS.


What inspired/encouraged you to start Strollin' to Fight SIDS?
I was encouraged to start Strollin' to Fight SIDS with the help of a dear friend.  I was deep in my grief, and I couldn't have pulled it off without her support.  Of course the inspiration was my daughter Anneliese.  My friend Tiffany who helped me start the event never even got to meet Anneliese, and yet still she felt led by God to help support me and make a difference in the fight against SIDS.  It has been a lot of work, but it is worth it.  Strollin' to Fight SIDS has helped to redirect my sadness and grief into action.  

As a mother, we would do anything to be an advocate for our children.  If Anneliese had been diagnosed with an illness of some sort, I would have been moved to fight for a cure. She may be gone, but she is still my daughter.  You never get over the loss of a child.  The way I honor her memory and advocate for her is through supporting SIDS research and making a difference for others.  That's what Strollin' to Fight SIDS is all about.  

When we started the event 4 years ago, we decided that we wanted to make it an uplifting, family friendly event in which we would come together to make a difference.  We didn't want it to be a sad, somber walk around a track.  Of course we are all there for a sad reason, but I feel that we succeeded in making it a wonderful event that anyone can enjoy, even if they haven't been touched by SIDS themselves.

What part do your children play in your current mission?
My children play a huge part in my life.  I always knew that I wanted to be a mom. My childhood was idyllic, never marred by tragedy.  At the time of Anneliese's death, I had two older daughters who were there the day that she died.  My life as a mom is now divided into the before/ and after experience of losing a child. There has been a very fine line in both supporting my daughters who are grieving their sister, and also in trying to establish as "normal" of a childhood as possible for them.  Even though I am active in Strollin' to Fight SIDS and my daughters attend the event, I try my best to give them as normal of a childhood as possible.  Life is so precious. I don't want to lose out on what I have now because I am too focused on what I have lost.  Our family was blessed with the birth of Anneliese's younger brother last June.  He was born just two days before what would have been her 3rd birthday. 

What lessons/values are you learning through this process?

I have learned to treasure the moment and be thankful for each day.  I am a more generous and kind person because of Anneliese.  She helped me to shape me into the person I am today. In many ways she saved me.  Her birth allowed my thyroid cancer to be found.  I will never understand why she had to go, and why I was chosen to stay, but I am determined that my life from here on out will not be without meaning. 

What can we do to support you and Strollin' to Fight SIDS?
Once again, spreading the word about our event is appreciated! Monetary donations are also greatly needed but also important is awareness about the need for SIDS research and sharing our event with others on social media.  The more people that we can reach, the more we can reach families such as mine who might not know about the presence of a SIDS walk in our area.

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  • KRISTINE MORELAND is on a mission to, in her own words, “ensure that each and every person I meet on the streets knows that they are loved.”
  • LINDA GUARD is a Generation Joy board member and has experienced its impact both here in our community and in Africa.  She also has an important message about kids and volunteering. 
  • DEBBIE BERTO is on a mission and working with the non-profit - Friends of Lake Sammamish State Park - to advocate for park improvements and to bring new events and people to the park. 
  • SHYANNE OLSEN is on a mission not only to put books in the hands of kids and their parents but also to make a difference in the everyday lives of people living in her community.
  • SUSAN HUSA is on a mission to create a group where mothers are welcomed, informed and inspired in their community.
  • RACHEL MARK is on a mission to start the Wildcat Swimming Club to share her love of swimming with others in our area.
  • DIANE GOCKEL is on a mission to share her love for animals and tell their stories to kids and their parents.
  • WENDY STONE is on a mission to "live life to the fullest" which led her - and two other friends - to launch a local winery called Pearl and Stone Wine Co.
  • HEATHER MATTHEWS is on a mission to make a difference in her community by raising money and awareness for the Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank.
  • KAYSEE HYATT is on a mission to build community awareness for pediatric stroke and hope for impacted children and families.
  • JULIE PARKER is on a mission to complete a marathon in every state by the time she turns 50 years old. 50 by 50.
  • JAMIE MENOLD is on a mission to raise awareness of and funds for pediatric cancer research.
  • KRISTEN BRANTNER is on a mission to make a difference in the future of rare disease and created a local non-profit called RAREevents.
  • CHRISTIE MALCHOW is on a mission to make sure the city hears the voices of young families and is running for Sammamish City Council.