Quinn Issiah Evering

March 6, 1995 –July 18, 2011

Quinn Evering was born into a single parent household and was welcomed with love and happiness. Quinn was a big baby and a loud baby but he filled a lonely home with a lot of endless joy, over the years Quinn grew into a calm, laidback and easy going young man. He was friendly and social and he loved to play, laugh and have a good time. He teased his friends and showed everyone respect and empathy. Quinn was known as the "Gentle Giant" by all his friends because he was 6"5 with a solid built but he was loved by all and no-one had a bad word to say about him.

Quinn loved to play sports and was very active. He enjoyed gym and was always the top of the class in physical activities: he enjoyed rollerblading, biking, hockey, baseball but his favourite was basketball. He hoped one day to be a professional basketball player. Quinn also loved music and over the years became very accomplished as a saxophone player. Through "Youtube" he taught himself how to play the guitar and, like most teens, he loved to play his video games.

Last year, during a routine physical the doctor heard a whooshing sound and made a referral for Quinn to go to a cardiac specialist. Quinn went through a complete series of tests: ECG, Stress Test, Echocardiogram and when the results came back in February 2011 they were inconclusive. Quinn and I were so happy and felt it would be ok for him to attend the one week basketball camp in Aspen, Colorado with his best friend who had moved there a few years ago.

Quinn was very excited and a bit nervous because it would be his first trip on his own outside of the country, but he was looking forward to the adventure. Quinn was to be away for a week and was gone for 3 days when I received a call from my friend that Quinn had collapsed at the camp. He had only been at the camp for a few hours. They were doing passing drills and they passed the ball to Quinn and as he reached to get it he just collapsed. They tried to revive him and did CPR and the doctors worked on him for over an hour but they couldn't revive him.

My world is now flipped out of control and I am lost and devastated and have been trying to find answers and support to help me deal with this emotional rollercoaster. It was through my research that I found The Canadian SADS Foundation and spoke at length with Pam Husband, the Executive Director. She has provided me with advice and also helped to connect me with some parents that have been through a similar loss and I have been chatting with them through email which has been a much needed support for me. Finding support for grieving parents has been really difficult and I am glad that The Canadian SADS Foundation is there to provide information and guidance to all the families suffering through this life altering experience.

At this time I am still early in my grief but am planning to participate in anyway that I can in the future with The Canadian SADS Foundation as this seems to be the only real support available to families. More research needs to be done so this silent killer won't take away anymore innocent children and destroy so many lives.

I also wanted to mention that since Quinn's passing, it has been so amazing to see how all his friends have banded together. They made bracelets that they have sold to raise money for charity support as well as to support me. The school and the camp in Colorado are planning a scholarship in his name. When Quinn's school started up in September, the school honoured him with a memorial assembly. So many of Quinn's school friends have offered assistance and support to me. For me it is so wonderful to see the effect that my son has had on so many people in his short life and I was so lucky to have him for my son.

Poem to Quinn:

Quinn my love, Quinn my dear

Another day has come and still you are not here,

Never again to see your face,

Never again to feel your loving embrace.

Gone forever...gone for good,

Gone too soon...way before you should,

How I miss you...how I long to kiss you;

My baby, my love, my son.

Loving you forever Mom

Forever missed by: The whole family and dear friends

Submitted by: