Dee-Jay and Jayden Ward’s heartbreak at losing baby boy Bronlee, who died in his sleep

Jayden Ward is still struggling to come to terms with the horrifying moment he woke to find his happy and healthy four-month-old son lifeless.

A young couple’s world was turned upside down when they discovered their baby boy had died in his sleep, just four months after he was born.

Jayden Ward, of Adelaide, was sleeping in bed on Friday night with his son Bronlee by his side while his wife Dee-Jay was in hospital having surgery.

He woke up the next morning and opened up his eyes, only to discover his little boy wasn’t breathing. It is believed baby Bronlee died from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

“I had looked over just to check him as I always do and I seen his chest wasn’t moving,” Mr Ward told news.com.au.

Mr Ward said it didn’t click with him right away what was happening, until he touched Bronlee’s forehead.

“I grabbed his forehead and felt it was stone cold. I had picked him up and I screamed ‘bubba’ multiple times,” the heartbroken father said.

He then ran into his mother-in-law’s room yelling for help.

Bronlee William Kotua Tau tragically died in his sleep. He was four months old. Picture: Facebook/ Dee-Jay Ward

Mr Ward tried to resuscitate his son for two minutes with the aid of a paramedic who ran through the steps of performing CPR over the phone.

“I didn’t really feel anything at that point, I just wanted my son to be OK,” he said.

“While counting the compressions I eventually lost it, crying.”

The first response unit turned up and pulled the shattered father out of the room and took over, but sadly, baby Bronlee couldn’t be saved.

“I still haven’t and I don’t know when I will accept that fact that he’s not coming home, I’m still in shock,” Mrs Ward said on a GoFundMe page set up to help the family with funeral costs.

He was sleeping next to his father Jayden when the dad woke up the next morning to discover his little boy was not breathing. Picture: Facebook/ Dee-Jay Ward

Mrs Ward, who described her son as being a happy, healthy boy, had received the devastating news while she was still in hospital.

“I struggled to get the courage to tell her,” Mr Ward said. “The whole ride to the hospital a million scenarios ran through my head, and it was still probably one of the hardest things I had done.”

Mr Ward said it was “heart wrenching” every time he thought about having to tell his wife of the tragedy, as he still hears the pain in her voice.

At first Mrs Ward didn’t understand what was happening when her mother and Mr Ward entered her hospital room until they said to her “I’m sorry” and that’s when she “dropped to the floor and kept saying ‘no, no, no’ repeatedly”.

The grieving mother left the hospital immediately, saying it was the “worst day of my life”.

Dee-Jay was in hospital at the time of her son’s death, recovering from surgery. Picture: Facebook/ Dee-Jay Ward

The Adelaide parents described their son as a happy, smiley and healthy baby boy. Picture: Facebook/ Dee-Jay Ward

It is believed baby Bronlee died from sudden infant death syndrome. Picture: Facebook/ Dee-Jay Ward

The cause of Bronlee’s death is unknown as the coroner’s report found the reason for his death was inconclusive.

“Preliminary reports are suggesting SIDS as the report had come back inconclusive,” Mr Ward told news.com.au.

So far almost $7000 has been raised to help the family lay their baby boy to rest.

“I just want to thank everyone again through these hard last few days, you have no idea how much this means to us,” Mrs Ward, who is still in hospital recovering from surgery, wrote on the GoFundMe page.

“At the moment it’s covered the first part of our funeral and we can still work out the second part! Again thank you for helping Bronlee have the beautiful send off that he’s going to have.

“The amount of love and support we have received we will forever be grateful for and no one will ever understand how much it means to us and how much we appreciate it.”

Mr and Mrs Ward are hoping to raise awareness for SIDS. Picture: Facebook/ Dee-Jay Ward

MUM’S HEARTBREAKING MESSAGE TO SON

In an emotional Facebook post, Mrs Ward shared a family photo of her husband and baby boy alongside the words: “I hope your still smiling away in heaven baby boy, I’m so happy you passed peacefully in your sleep my baby boy, I’m glad you never felt pain, anger or sadness! “You were and alway will be the light of our life’s (sic).”

The grieving mother had posted previous images of her son, hugging him, kissing him and showing off his adorable dimples.

“For the rest of my life at least I know I’m going to have you to love and to be loved by back, I’m going to be the best mum for you and promise to give you the life you deserve. “You are the light of my life, my happiness and my favourite part of every minute of every day. I’ll always love you endlessly … thank you for completing my life and making everyday worth it,” one of her Facebook posts from May read.

Mr Ward told family and friends to “hold their child close, no matter their age”.

“Give them the biggest kiss and cuddle you can. You never know when it may be your last,” he wrote in a separate Facebook post.

RAISING AWARENESS

The parents are now hoping to raise awareness for SIDS.

“We’re wanting parents to do research, to understand what you can about SIDS,” Mr Ward said.

“If we can help raise enough awareness and prevent even just one family from going through this pain, it will help ease us.”