On August 23rd, 2018, 6 week old Elena Janice Hamm, silently stopped breathing in her sleep.   We (her parents) were able to get her heart beating and pulse back however it was too late and in the wee hours of the morning at St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital, Baby Elena passed away. Elena was a happy and healthy and very much loved daughter and little sister to her older sister, Mia.  Our family has been devastated since her passing. Suspected to be SIDS as per the coroner and doctors, our family is continuing to wait on final autopsy results.  At the time of this writing, it has been 5 months with no explanation on how our healthy daughter suddenly passed away.  

After connecting with other families who have experienced infant loss in Canada, it has been found that results are received nearly a year following the infants death - in some cases even longer (up to 18 months).

While we recognize that in the case of SIDS answers are not often provided, we find this information as crucial to part of our healing and grief process.  We are starting this petition to gather signatures and interest in hopes of creating change to the length of time it takes for autopsy results to a maximum of 3 months.  We hope to present this to our Provincial MP, Jeff Yurek, to continue to advocate for families, like ours, seeking answers and a form of closure.  Waiting on results takes away ones ability to function normally.  Every phone call you wonder if this could be it.  

Our family and other families who have experienced infant loss deserve these results.

Thank you for reading and for your support

Amanda Zielinski (Hamm)