MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WTVF) — A middle Tennessee family is carrying on their young son's legacy more than 10 years after his sudden death by raising money to protect other children from the same fate.
Heather Parris lost her son Raelee when he was 3½ years old.
"He was three and a half years old when he passed away in his sleep from a febrile seizure," Parris said. "It's when a child's fever spikes high, or it starts dropping too fast. It can start causing a seizure.”
While some doctors say it is rare for these seizures to be fatal, the Parris family has made it their mission to prevent other families from experiencing the same loss they had.
"We want to protect other parents from going through what our story is," Parris said.
Thanks to fundraising events and donations, the family purchases infant bed monitors for families who reach out to them. The monitors cost nearly $600 each and are usually not covered by insurance.
Click here to follow Raelee Parris Legacy on Facebook.
"It is a rhythmic movement monitor for children's beds that will pick up a seizure happening and alert the caregiver," Parris said.
On Sunday, the family held a fundraiser at Kat’s Bar and Grill in Mt. Juliet to help fund the effort. Donated items were auctioned off, including Titans gear with matching hats, trips, home goods, electric signs, and more.
"We have Titans gear with matching hats; we have canned goods from someone who has canned their vegetables that they've grown in their garden," Parris said.
Over the years, the fundraising has allowed the family to give away about 40 monitors.
Family friend Cindy Qualls has seen firsthand the impact the Parris family's fundraiser has had.
"I was recently on Facebook and saw somebody who had a child with fever seizures and was talking about it, and I tagged her in it, and then like the next day, she was able to get them a monitor," Parris said.
The family says the community support behind Raelee's legacy is overwhelming.
"It's very emotional. Community is amazing, and that's probably the part that'll get you crying fast because of how it pulls everybody in for one child's name," Parris said.
The Parris family also built a playground at the Gladeville Community Center to honor Raelee.
Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at robb.coles@newschannel5.com.
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