Dayton's birth picture

This online memorial was created in loving memory of Dayton West-Mullen, whose life story is told throughout this memorial website.

Dayton Lee West-Mullen

Placed in Mommy's arms June 14,2002

Placed in God's arms October 27,2002

What can one possibly say about a life so short but yet so very meaningful?The statement we loved you is so ridiculous because it is so much more than love.You were and still are a part of us.When we buried you we buried a big part of ourselves as well.We think of you everyday,how old you would be.what you would look like, the things you might like, and we miss you,Dayton.What more can we say but WE MISS YOU???

A Little About Our Angel

Dayton was born on June 14,2002 at 9:40 p.m. weighing 7 lbs.13oz. and 19 3/4 inches long. He was shockingly alert for  newborn,wide eyes looking all around from the time he was born, like he was taking in every sight this world had to offer. He was a very laid back baby and would let just about anyone hold him.I would take him to the nursing home I worked at on my days off and let the residents hold and snuggle him.He would just stare into their eyes and smile and coo at them.The smiles that Dayton put on the nursing home residents faces were irreplacable.Those elderly ladies and gentlemen truly loved him, and sometimes it was hard for me to get them to give him back to me!!!Dayton loved his older sister Malayah.In the mornings we would watch cartoons and Malayah would kneel on the floor and hold Dayton's hands and dance around with him, all the while he would be laughing and smiled.He was honestly ALWAYS smiling. Dayton also had a special purple stuffed monkey thst he loved to chew on and diddle with. We called this his "love monkey".It now sits in our memorial cabinet we hve for him in our living room.Dayton loved everyone he met, and was such a sweet little blessing,and though losing him was the worst thing that has ever happened in our lives,we are so glad that we got to meet him,and love him,and hold him in our arms, even if it was only for a little while. I know I will see my baby boy again.Until then,Forever Loved,Forever Missed,NEVER FORGOTTEN.

Our favorite picture of Dayton

October 27,2002

At 2:30 a.m. Dayton woke up for a bottle. I fed him and usually he would fall back to sleep during his feeding.He did not fall back asleep,instead he stayed awake for the next half hour staring very intensly into my eyes cooing and smiling.He was so focused on my eyes,he would not break his gaze. Little did I know this was his way of saying "Mommy,Jesus needs me,and in the morning I will be gone, I love you so much Mommy and I don't want to be sad.Keep smiling Mommy, just like me.Goodbye." I was awoke at about 10 til 8am by Jon's mother screaming I was laying on Dayton. My shoulder was pressed against his face.I quickly scooped him up.He was warm to the touch but his lips were blue. I immediately started CPR while someone I cannot remember who called 911.Eerytime I would blow into Dayton's mouth,when I would remove my mouth to do the chest compressions,he would make this little noise, like a laugh, I think that was his way of saying "Mommy,I'm alright." I ran him outside to the ambulance as soon as I heard they were at my house.They took his beautful little limp body from me, and took off down the road.Complete chaos set in at my house. For some riduculous reason we could not find the keys to our car, Jon's mom could not find the keys to her car,so we ended up taking Jon's brother's mustang to the hospital.Jon drove while I screamed. I was not crying I was just screaming at the top of my lungs, I don't know if there were words or just screams.When we got the hospital we were led to "the room" (you know the room they take the family to when it's really bad)where a social worker was waiting.I was still screaming and she grabbed me and told me I need to calm down. I punched her in the face and told her "Don't tell me to calm down.That's my baby back there dying." Needless to say,I didnt see her around after that.When a doctor finally surfaced in the doorway I already knew what he was going to say.I am his mother and I knew he was dead because when he died I felt it and I felt a part of me die at that very moment. I did not want to hear how the doctor was going to word it so I crawled across the floor,buried my head in Jon's lap,put my hands over my ears and screamed so I could not hear what he was saying.It's not that I didnt want to know he was dead,I already knew, I just didn't want to hear HOW the doctor was going to say it becaude I knew whatever he said was going to stick in my hed for the rest of my life so I just screamed.To this day I dont know what was said.My mom,Jon's mom,and Jon's aunt showed up and I just grabbed my mom and started to fall down in shock and all the while my mom is saying "Lisa my coffee,I'm spilling my coffee all down your back." I don't know why but for some reason I thought they knew he was dead.They didn't. My mom later told me that thought did not cross her mind, she just figured they'd give him CPR and he'd be home in a day or two. More family started showing up, my older sister LeeAnn was 7 months pregnant and I saw her car pulling in and insisted on meeting her in the emergency room waiting room.My mom tried to stop me but there was no stopping me, I remember her walking towards me with tears streaming down her face it was like slow motion we embraced and just bawled in front of about 50 strangers,we wouldnt let go of each other,my mom had to guide us back to the dreaded "room". Ajacent to "the room" was another room where they had brought Dayton's body and family was going in and out holding him and saying their goodbyes.I did not hold him.I knew he had already said his goodbye to me the night before.I cant remember much of the next few days, but my best friend Megan at my side at all times, laying on the ground in the middle of the mall at the music store trying to find a song for my sons funeral, bits and peices. He looked like a true angel at his service.I was going to have the casket closed but he was so beautiful we left it open until the service started. I spoke though I could not tell  you what I said, the pastor who did the service did a wonderful beautiful job,though I couldnt tell you what he said either. At the end of the funeral when everyone walks by the casket there was no structure, we had two lines going people hugging me then waiting to hug jon holding up the line and vice versa,people whispering the saddest and craziest things in my ear and i finally just fell out on the floor and my mom told my dad to get everyone out.I made the funeral people open the casket so I could see him one last time and I kissed him and one of my tears fell on his cheek,I went to wipe it off but then said no,take this tear with you to Heaven and give it to God for me.I told the funeral people I wanted to close the casket they told me I didnt know how to, and I told them they had to show me then because I was closing it.I don't know why it was just something in my heart that said I had to be the one to close it,so I did. I miss him everyday,EVERY SINGLE DAY I MISS AND THINK ABOUT MY FIRST BORN SON.

Our Little Man

Dayton's cause of death was "overlay asphyxia", and babies are dying of it more and more. Never in a million years would I think that sleeping with my baby would lead to his death, but it happened.And it is still happening to other families. It is a nightmare and no one should ever have to go through this pain and heartache and carry the burdens that I have in my heart. In Ohio in 2005 174 infants died due to sleep related deaths. 101 or 58%  of those infants died while sleeping on a surface with another person. Cosleeping is a danger that few people think of. It is just not worth the risk of losing your baby. In Columbus,Ohio 4 babies died in 4 consecutive days;cause of deaths "overlay asphyxia". Please don't sleep with your baby, or you might be thrown into this nightmare that is our reality.It is very hard for me to admit that I accidentally rolled onto my baby causing his death, you cannot imagine how hard it is, but I do it because I wish I would of heard a mother's story about this before I decided to sleep with my baby.And if I can save one baby from dying,save one family from going though this heartache,save one big sister from never getting to grow up with her little brother,than it is more than worth it to put myself in the line of fire and judgement and tell my story.I will tell my story to anyone who will listen, I have to tell it, for Dayton.

Precious Smile

Oh, Little Boy,

Please know that I will go to the moon and back to tell your story and honor your memory (how it hurts my heart to refer to you as a memory). I love you bunches and one day in a land where all is perfect we will be together again my little boy. Until then, be good and keep shining, Day-Day! I can't wait to hold you in my arms again!

Love,

Mommy