Community rallies for Clifton Springs couple after five-month-old baby girl suddenly dies
A Clifton Springs couple have been left heartbroken after their five-month-old baby girl suddenly died.
Geelong
Don't miss out on the headlines from Geelong. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A Clifton Springs couple have been left heartbroken after their five-month-old baby girl, Isla Willis, died suddenly
Mum Alex Reed said her baby Isla had a feed on the morning of December 8 before she was back down to sleep.
“When I woke up, she was gone,” Ms Reed said.
“I grabbed her instantly.
“My partner (Isla’s dad, Pat Willis) was at work, I found her alone.
“I ran outside saying ‘help me, my baby’ … I was trying to call triple-0.”
Ms Reed and her neighbour started to perform CPR on Isla.
“I saw the life go from my baby,” she said.
When the paramedics arrived, they continued CPR in an effort to revive Isla.
“The paramedics were amazing … I begged them to not stop,” Ms Reed said.
“They told me that because of her temperature, she may have been gone for a while.
“I’ll never forgot it.
“It all happened within an hour and a half.”
Ms Reed and Mr Willis’ families then rushed to their home.
“Her (grandma) dressed her … we put a beanie on her and wrapped her in my favourite blanket for her.
“I sung ‘You Are My Sunshine’ to her in our rocking chair and held her as long as I could.”
Ms Reed said a coroner later arrived and placed Isla in a old-fashioned-style baby bassinet.
“Her lips were cold and blue,” Ms Reed said.
It is believed Isla died of natural causes.
Ms Reed said her baby girl, the couple’s only child, was the “happiest soul”.
“Her belly giggle was the best,” she said.
“She was our happy baby girl.
“She loved her bath times with her daddy, that was so special.”
Isla loved Winnie the Pooh and Bluey, Ms Reed said.
“She was only upset when she needed something or if she didn’t want to go to bed,” she said.
A GoFundMe has been established for the couple to help cover the cost of bills, rent and therapy appointments as they are unable to work while they grieve the loss of their baby girl.
More than $7000 has already been raised, with a goal of $30,000.
Ms Reed said the love and support the family had received made a “world of a difference”.
“Some days are better than others, we have our moments where we break down and cry,” she said.
“From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.”
To donate, head to gofundme.com/beautiful-happy-girl-taken-too-soon.
More Coverage
Originally published as Community rallies for Clifton Springs couple after five-month-old baby girl suddenly dies
Unique Vic ‘fairyland’ village has volcanic rock home, 12m bore
A huge Victorian property with three private residences has hit the market — with one of the owners’ describing it as their own little “fairyland”. SEE WHY.
No more Cats clash: AFL Barwon makes GFNL finals change
Footy fans can now attend the GFNL preliminary final and Geelong’s preliminary final on the same day.
Measures Geelong schools are taking to stop sexting
Geelong schools are bringing in police officers to speak with kids about the dangers of sharing nude pictures, as sexual violence experts warn campuses are being “overrun” by crimes that start with sexting.
Injury-riddled to intercept force: How ‘unlucky’ Cat overcame woes
Entering the year uncontracted and struggling for continuity, Jack Henry hasn’t missed a beat — or a game — this year. He opens up on his season and Geelong’s ‘tough’ call at selection.
‘Miraculous’: Mum and bub’s near-death birth scare
A Bannockburn mum was preparing for the worst when she found a “trail of blood” eight weeks before her baby’s due date.
Disgraced myotherapist loses bid to appeal sex assault sentences
A disgraced myotherapist who was convicted of sexually assaulting his patients launched the appeal bid four years later, asking a judge to reconsider the sentences he received.