Mitchelton parents flooded with donations after death of baby girl

Northside parents grieving the sudden death of their eight month old baby girl have been overwhelmed by community support for their unexpected, heartbreaking loss.

Angela Brazil, mother to Harper, expressed her gratitude to the many locals and businesses that have supported her and her family since her daughter’s death. Picture: Supplied

Northside residents have opened their hearts and wallets to support a grieving couple struggling to cope with the loss of their eight-month-old daughter Harper Bertrand who died in her sleep on January 24.

“You could say Harper was the ‘perfect’ baby from the day she was born,” mother Angela Brazil said.

“She was such a content and happy baby and would only cry when she was hungry.”

Harper passed away from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Here funeral was held on Wednesday where she was surrounded by her family, including her father Leigh and her two older brothers.

“I think with any illness that causes death the more research you do the more findings you will make and the more closure that information may bring” Ms Brazil said in regards to Harpers diagnosis.

Baby Harper with parents Angela and Leigh and her two older brothers. Picture: New Life in Bloom Photography

“Everyone who met her would comment on how happy she always was,’’ Ms Brazil said.

Harper will live forever in her memories for her facial expressions when she tried new foods and for her love of the outdoors and playing in water.

“She started sleeping through the night from seven weeks old, every parent’s dream you could say.”

She also said Harper’s smile would like up light up the room.

“Her laugh was so contagious. She had just started crawling and saying ‘dada’.”

“You can never prepare anyone for what we’ve gone through.”

SIDS facts

The exact cause of SIDS is unknown

SIDS typically occurs in babies younger than 1 year

There is a slightly higher rate of boys developing SIDS

SIDS has no warning signs or symptoms

SIDS accounts for 3% of all infant deaths in Australia

The rate of SIDS has slowly declined in Australia since 1991

Source: The Australian Institute of Health and Welfar; The Mayo Clinic

Ms Brazil administers a local Facebook gifting group which over the years has helped thousands of people in need.

After learning of her family’s tragedy, group members stepped up to help out.

One member, Karen Stonehouse, said soon after appealing for help she was contacted with offers of money vouchers, meat vouchers from a local butcher and a massive gift basket from a pharmacy.

“Since my post on the community site I have been contacted by other businesses offering support as well,’’ she said.

“They all said it was not about the recognition, but about helping a family through a tragic situation. The community spirit is amazing.”

Harper was laid to rest in a private ceremony on Wednesday (February 8). Picture: Supplied

Ms Brazil broke the news to the gifting group in a post explaining why she had to step back from her role.

“The news spread like wildfire and before we knew it the whole community started contributing anyway they could, whether it be home-cooked food, buying groceries, or even walking the dogs or mowing the yard,” she said.

“We never expected the amount of overwhelming support from strangers and the local community. We were and still are at a loss for words.”

Ms Brazil said many local business owners, most of whom were strangers, shed tears after hearing the news and offered their support.

“The Moreton Bay Kitchen offered to pay for my son’s tuckshop for the rest of the term and Wests Mitchelton Rugby League Club, who my son has been playing with for the past six years, covered his fees for the year,’’ she said.

“The parents from his team covered the bar tab and made food for (Harper’s) wake.”

“The amount of generosity from everyone has just reminded us that there are still such beautiful people in this world,’’ she said.

“We are forever humbled and grateful to every single person whether it be just to send their condolences or flowers, to the local business that has donated something, to those who have cooked us a meal, bought us groceries, donated to the GoFundMe page or have offered to help out in any way they can.

“At a time our hearts feel so empty, our hearts feel so full at the same time.”