Parents Jordan DeRosier and her husband Justin went through every parent’s worst nightmare when their beloved son Sloan died at just seven months old.
To help her cope, Jordan shared a short commemoration to her little boy on her Facebook wall, writing: “Our sweet rainbow warrior, your short time on this earth blessed so many. You were a gift to all who knew you, and an inspiration to all who didn’t. Your death has impacted this world, it has left an emptiness felt by so many.
“You were not able to live out our dreams for you, yet our dreams are where we will find you forever. We will forever be caught in this space between worlds, the space you now exist for us. Our longing for you is eternal if only your life had been.”
Jordan initially didn’t want to disclose the circumstances of Sloan’s death but was horrified to receive messages and comments on Facebook from strangers claiming that vaccines were responsible for the little boy’s death.
In fact, Sloan’s death was a tragic accident. Jordan had put him down to bed with a blanket which his head had somehow become entangled in.
Responding to upsetting messages she had received, Jordan explained why she had not revealed what happened to her son – she was overcome with guilt and heartbreak.
“To those who keep commenting and messaging trying to blame vaccines for our son’s death - stop,” she begged.
“Initially I had not wanted to explain the detailed circumstances of his death because of my guilt and the fear of condemnation from others. But I will not allow anyone to try and place blame where it does not belong.”
Jordan went on to warn other parents not to put their babies down with a blanket.
“You never think it will happen to you. You never think it will be your baby. Please do not put your babies to bed with a blanket. Please.
"He was seven months old, I thought because he was crawling, standing on his own, and climbing, that he would be fine with a blanket.”
The young mum posted a heartrending photo of herself crying alongside the post.
“This is the face of immense, unfathomable grief, the face of longing, of heartbreak, of self-inflicted GUILT. I will NEVER stop feeling responsible,“ she wrote.
"Please learn from my world shattering mistake," the devastated young mum concluded.
