Remembering Maxx: The Rainbows After the Storm

Owlet Cares is our advocacy initiative that is dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of babies and parents. One way we do this is by partnering with nonprofits all over the world who share our mission. These groups participate in our 3:1 match program. When they purchase one Owlet product, we match it with two, meaning three families are reached.

Each month, we shine a spotlight on one of our foundation partners and the important work they are doing. This month, we’d like to introduce you to Jayne Kidger, grandmother of Maxx who passed away from SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). In her words, here’s how her family is honoring Maxx by helping other UK families that are experiencing pregnancy after loss.

By: Jayne Kidger

After losing our precious grandson Maxx to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), our family knew we wanted to honour his memory in a way that could bring comfort to others facing similar heartbreak. That led us to the Care of Next Infant (CONI) at Colchester and Ipswich Hospital, a program that offers vital reassurance to families welcoming a new baby after loss.

To support the CONI team and raise awareness around SIDS, we hosted a Family Fun Day at our farm in Brightlingsea. Our goal was to raise funds and provide families with equipment that could offer peace of mind. When we reached out to Owlet about purchasing Dream Socks for donation, they responded with extraordinary generosity.

Thanks to Owlet’s support, we were able to donate 30 Owlet Dream Sock® monitors to the Neonatal Outreach and CONI Team at Colchester & Ipswich Hospital. These devices will help families feel more confident and supported during an emotional and uncertain time.

We hope this donation, made in loving memory of our grandson, brings comfort to families in need and highlights the essential role of the CONI program. Our family is committed to continuing this work and raising awareness in the future.

As Grandparents the pain of not only losing our Grandson Maxx at 27 months who was one of an identical twin, it was supporting our daughter Hannah and Son-in-law Michael. They moved in with us for a while as they couldn’t face going home, where Hannah found Maxx that horrendous morning. It was 9 days before Christmas when it happened. 

The presents had already been wrapped and we had to separate them - that was one of the hardest things I did with Hannah. We had all sorts of plans for them over the Christmas period and we tried to keep to most of them for Marley's sake.

It was then when they went back to their house, as Grandparents we went to remove the bunk beds and redecorate the room. Hannah couldn’t go into the room for a long time and Marley slept in their room for over a year.

As Grandparents and parents of parents that have experienced the loss of their child, we soon realised there is hardly any support for us who are supporting our children and grandchildren and other siblings in the family. We had to keep things going, making sure everybody was eating and the basics like washing clothes and some sort of routine for Marley. My Husband Steve organised the funeral as Hannah and Michael were in no state to manage it, also they had no experience or understanding of what to do first. 

Certainly, our son Joe has really struggled with the loss of Maxx and supporting his sister Hannah.

So, we are starting a support group locally, and being supported by the CONI team. This program will be for grandparents, siblings, aunties, uncles - anybody that has been affected by SIDS - and it will be funded with some of the money we raise through Maxx’s Day. 

We are now nearly 3 years on and we miss him every day, it’s all the firsts when Marley started school and his first nativity play - there should have been two. 

Hannah and Michael have since had another little boy called Charlie who is the most adorable curly haired boy in the world but I am a little biased.

Marley was sitting on a farm gate the other day and Charlie was playing in the field and he said, “Nanny I’m really lucky.” When I asked him “why” he replied, “Because I have my big brother Maxx looking after me in the sky and I have a little brother Charlie who's on the ground that I can look after”.

Dream Sock is intended to track baby's pulse rate and oxygen level and keep parents informed. Dream Sock is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease or other condition, including but not limited to, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and/or Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Medical decisions should never be made solely using Dream Sock data. Dream Sock should not substitute for the care and oversight of an adult or consultation with medical professionals.