Kailey's First Easter Basket

by Gina Ramsey

You have added my poems I have written about my daughter, and I want to thank you for that. People need to be aware of how SIDS affects lives, and maybe then, it will be taken seriously. Just today, I was counseling a new SIDS parent, while talking to another friend of mine whose baby is alive and well, and she seemed so surprised there was yet another SIDS death. I told her that SIDS takes an average of 1 baby an hour, and she was totally floored. People just don't realize how often this does happen!

Anyway, the reason I am writing you is that I have written yet another poem. The name of this one is Kaileys First Easter, and is about how different it is for me to buy an Easter basket for Kailey than all the other mothers buying the other babies first Easter baskets.

Kailey's First Easter Basket

I went to buy her a Easter basket,
Like any mother would,
So many things I couldn't do for her,
This is one I could

I joined all the mothers,
Searching so frantically,
Little did they know,
This was very different for me

All they had to think about,
Is what their kids would like,
I had such different worries,
And that would never feel right

Would it hold up to the rain,
Or fade in the sun,
Would it melt in the heat,
Or would the colors run

I picked a plastic basket,
Not pretty as the rest,
But for it's special purpose,
It would be the best

I bought her a stuffed bunny,
And little plastic eggs,
Saran wrap to protect it all,
And to hold it down some pegs

I paid for it with love and joy,
but when the cashier cheered,
"What a pretty little basket"
I had to fight back my tears

All the other mothers,
Took their baskets home,
They'd give them to their babies,
And I'd be all alone

I shivered at the thought,
of the unfairness of it all,
They'd hunt eggs with their babies,
so tiny and so small

I took her basket with me,
And assembled it with pride,
I made sure it'd stay together,
for that long awaited ride

I gave the basket to my daughter,
and then a little wave,
Because on Kailey's first Easter,
I had to put it on her grave

Written April 16, 1998 with love by: Gina Ramsey

In Memory of:
Kailey Madison Ramsey

Born: December 11th, 1997
Taken by SIDS: February 12th, 1998

Kailey Madison Ramsey's story can be found at http://members.xoom.com/KaileysMom
(please note that this link will take you off the SIDS Network's SIDS/OID Information Web Site. Using the "back" button on your web browser should return you to the SIDS/OID Information Web Site)