Grieving Scots parents have told of the “indescribable” moment their three-month-old baby passed away from cot death.
Chelsea Bridgman, 33, and Liam Wiseman, 35 found their daughter Mackenzie Samantha Morag Wiseman unresponsive at their Aberdeenshire home on October 15 – the last day of Baby Loss Awareness Week.
Mackenzie, born three weeks prematurely on June 29, 2024, was a happy and healthy baby before she passed away from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Chelsea tearfully told the Record: “We woke up on October 15, and she was gone. My partner did his hardest with CPR until the ambulance came, but it was too late.”
The couple then faced an agonising wait for the post-mortem results. “From that Tuesday to Friday, not knowing her cause of death was unbearable,” she said. “You go through scenarios in your head wondering if you made her bottle wrong or did something to cause it. It’s indescribable.”
Mackenzie’s sudden passing has deeply affected the family, including her six-year-old brother Kieran, who has been a “brave and strong” support for his parents. “Kieran doesn’t quite understand. He used to help with her nappies, sing her nursery rhymes, and help feed her. He was so involved,” Chelsea said, “he’s been a rock for us since her passing.”
She added: “One of my biggest regrets was never getting a photo with her and her biggest brother, Lewis.”
Chelsea and Liam have found some solace in remembering the good times with Mackenzie, including her favourite song, Perfect by Ed Sheeran, which always calmed her.
She remembered: “She loved that song. The older she got, the wider her eyes got when she heard it, as if she was trying to sing along.
“You have days now that you think back and have a laugh or giggle, but inside you feel that you shouldn’t be allowed to be happy or smile again. There was nothing anyone could have done, even if we had sat and watched her all night, it was going to happen. It has taken a while to come to terms with that.“
The family hopes sharing their tragic experience would help comfort other parents facing the same ordeal.
At Mackenzie’s funeral on October 29, the couple decided to start fundraising for the Scottish Cot Death Trust, which has been a lifeline for them during this traumatic time. Thus far they have raised just under £1,000.
Chelsea explained: “The funeral director asked if we wanted to do a collection. We found the Scottish Cot Death Trust, and it felt right. When we saw how much we’d raised, we knew we had to keep going, to raise awareness and support other families like ours.”
With the support of family and friends, the couple’s fundraising continues to grow, driven by their desire to honour Mackenzie’s memory and provide a safety net for other grieving parents.
She finished: “We wouldn’t be at this stage fundraising for others in the same situation as us if it wasn’t for the support of our family and friends. My partner and I know that we can make a difference and we want to raise money in Mackenzie’s name.”
To donate, visit their JustGiving.
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