OMAHA, Neb. (KMTV) — Wednesday, mothers in need at the Open Door Mission's Lydia House were treated to a baby shower--all organized by a mother who's mourning the loss of her 2-year-old son.
Car seats, strollers, pack and plays and so much more were unloaded and carted into the Lydia House Wednesday morning.
“The women and children at Lydia House... they need support,” said Tara Bowne, mother of two sons, Parker and Ryker.
Bowne organized the baby shower.
“Ryker was a perfect, healthy, 2 ½-year-old little boy,” said Bowne.
But the family's life turned upside down in 2018.
“He went to bed that evening,” said Bowne. “The next morning, my husband went to wake him and he was non-responsive.”
Ryker’s death was labeled a case of Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC).
“It was just pure disbelief, numbness, and just devastation,” said Bowne.
Bowne said she and her husband had to come to terms with their new family unit to mourn the loss of Ryker… but also, she said, in a way to mourn the childhood their now 10-year-old son, Parker, lost.
”The life that my son Parker had known with Ryker and being a child and immortality and everything was different,” said Bowne.
But their grief led them to an idea… to spread kindness in Ryker's name.
“His memory really started living on through these acts--I believe firmly there is healing in helping others in a way that I don’t think anything else heals you,” said Bowne.
The family created an Honoring Ryker Facebook page... and with help from people across the country, they put together events like a baby shower aimed at helping others in their time of need.
“I know how important it is to have people rally around you that don't even know you and just love you unconditionally and that's why we chose to do this,” said Bowne.
Spreading love and kindness while honoring a sweet little boy who's left an impact on so many.
”The fact that my angel gets to help them and their children and be that blessing... there's just an overwhelming peace," said Browne.
A virtual baby shower will continue online through Saturday, you can find the registry of needed items here.
