The Danny Foundation is closing its doors after almost 20 years and it must be commended. After a crib accident, the family used its grief constructively to make a real difference to folks across America, as it worked to make sure that every baby has a safe place to sleep.
Little 23-month-old Danny Lineweaver of Alamo received severe brain damage when his T-shirt became entangled on the corner post of his crib in 1984. He passed away nine years later. His family and friends formed the Danny Foundation and worked tirelessly not only to legislate crib safety but to educate people on the hazards of older cribs. The foundation’s goal was to make sure that every baby slept in a safe crib, so no family would have to suffer like theirs did and no other babies would have their lives so tragically cut short in the one place they should be safe.
Often when a family experiences the tragic loss of a spouse or a child through an accident or crime, family members search for a constructive avenue to channel their grief. The grief is so overwhelming that “doing something” makes the pain somewhat more manageable over time. Numerous examples of this exist that are well known.
After 7-year-old New Jersey resident Megan Kanka was raped and killed by a known child molester who had moved across the street from her family, the survivors worked tirelessly to create Megan’s Law. The law requires local police departments to make the registration of sex offenders, including their location, readily available to the public. MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, was created following the accident that killed the daughter of the founder. Locally, Bob and Carmen Pack were instrumental following the death of their children in establishing Street Smarts, a program to educate drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians on traffic safety.
Each of these programs would not exist if it had not been for the tragic death of loved ones. The Danny Foundation has permanently changed the way we take care of our babies. There were approximately 100 crib-related deaths per year in 1984, when Danny Lineweaver had his accident, and there were fewer than 16 last year. The Danny Foundation is now disbanding because its board feels its work is done. Its accomplishments are indeed a tribute to the memory of Danny, and its members are to be commended for actually changing the world by channeling their grief constructively.
