"Each new life...
No matter how fragile or brief...
Forever changes the world."
Contact Because of Cody...
815-293-SIDS (7437) E-mail: info@becauseofcody.org PO Box 24, Bourbonnais, IL 60914
About Us
Because of Cody... is a local not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization established in loving memory of Cody Thomas Arbour. Because of Cody... is dedicated to educating others about SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) and Safe Sleep for Babies. SIDS cannot be prevented, but there are many ways to reduce the risk. We encourage you to educate yourself and help us educate others. Please help us spread the word.
About Cody
Cody Thomas Arbour was born May 14th, 2008 and died on September 26, 2008 at the young age of 4 1/2 months old while he was sleeping at his babysitter's house. Cody was the 2nd born child to JT and Barb Arbour. His big brother Cayden was 20 months old when Cody passed away. The Arbour family has since welcomed Tyson who was born in October 2009. Those who got the chance to know Cody during his short life will remember his bright beautiful eyes, sunny smile, deep dimples & his sweet personality.
The Beginning
SIDS or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome happens quickly and unexpectedly. There is no warning. When Cody passed away at his babysitter's house on 9/26/08, Dawn could not even begin to wrap her mind around what had happened. This was obviously true with Cody's family as well.
Judy Jo Arbour, Cody's Paternal Grammee found herself online looking for answers, trying to better understand what SIDS is. Less than a mile away, Dawn Knapper was doing the very same thing. They found themselves comparing notes with each other. Initially it was a way to try to make sense out of what happened to Cody. They began sharing what they were learning with others. People were asking questions about SIDS, in hopes of trying to better understand how a healthy baby could die suddenly.
Judy Jo and Dawn saw a real need to educate others about SIDS in their community. People had heard of SIDS, some even had a basic idea about SIDS. Unfortunately most did not understand that SIDS is not something that can be prevented and there is no cure. Fortunately there are many things that can be done to reduce the risk of SIDS happening. This is how Because of Cody... was started. Judy Jo and Dawn found that their passion to gain as much knowledge as they could about this and share it with others, along with other people's desire to learn as much as they could about SIDS was the driving force to starting Because of Cody...