Family of toddler who died of sudden unexplained death in childhood raising awareness

CINCINNATI (WXIX) - A Clermont County family is looking to raise money for Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) awareness and support. FOX 19 NOW first spoke to the family of Willow Grissom last year.

2-year-old Willow was found dead after lying down for a nap at daycare. Her grandmother, Nancy Cioffi, told FOX 19 on Wednesday that after months of tests, no cause of death was found.

The coroner labeled it SUDC. It’s similar to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in that it’s a broad term for deaths with no apparent cause, but it differs because it refers to children past infancy.

Cioffi said it’s difficult to understand and move on from that kind of loss, let alone when there’s no real explanation.

“Every day’s a reminder,” she said. “Every day you think of her.”

She said since then they’ve been trying to get politicians to mandate defibrillators in every daycare in Ohio, but they’ve also devoted time to raising money for the SUDC Foundation.

Their group helped secure the appropriate tests for Willow, and since then, they’ve provided funding for counseling for Cioffi’s family.

Cioffi said it’s been particularly helpful for Willow’s mother.

“She learned at least we got two years,” she said. “Some parents got a month, some parents got two hours.”

March is SUDC Awareness Month, so the family created T-shirts that they’ve sold to raise money for the SUDC Foundation.

Cioffi said so far they’ve raised over $1,500.

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