Holmdel Park Bench Dedicated To Toddler Who Died Of Unknown Cause

HOLMDEL, NJ - A memorial bench at Cross Farm Park in Holmdel is slated to be dedicated this weekend to a Holmdel toddler who tragically passed away in 2017. Three years later, there is still no known explanation for her untimely death.

Holmdel parents Dr. Denise Wunderler and Dr. Mike Savino experienced the unimaginable on November 12, 2017: their healthy two-year-old daughter Vienna, just two months shy of her birthday, never woke up after falling asleep watching television.

Vienna's death was later categorized as Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC), a term used by medical examiners when they find no other reason to explain why a healthy child 1-18 years old suddenly passes away. An estimated 400 American children every year are given the SUDC label, a number which may be even higher as some deaths are incorrectly classified or not reported. Related: Holmdel Toddler's Unexplained Death Now Studied In Med School

During a May 15 ceremony at 2 p.m., a bench dedication for Vienna will take place at Cross Farm Park near the splash pad/pavilion, complete with a proclamation will be presented by Mayor Greg Buontempo. Free gifts will be available after the ceremony including balloon animals. Team Vienna shirts and Vienna Collection handbags will be for sale.

In addition to the new bench, a unique mold containing the handprints of Vienna alongside her two siblings will be placed at the memorial. The mold of the toddler’s hand was formed from a two-dimensional handprint craft that Vienna made in 2017, her mother told Patch. The Veteran's Day-inspired craft was made for her father and created only created two days before she passed away.

"The middle replica of Vienna‘s hand was made from my good friends back in Pennsylvania, at Jenkins machine shop," Wunderler said. "I asked Mike Jenkins the owner, a week ago if he could make something so we can use her hand print in the cement. Within five days he had her hand print for us to use!"

The memorial bench dedication is set to take place on Vienna’s Day of International SUDC Awareness, designated as the first Saturday after Mother’s Day. Here’s what you can do to raise awareness of SUDC on May 15:

• Wear a Team Vienna shirt (or hot pink, Vienna’s favorite color) and volunteer in Vienna’s honor (shirts can be purchased at hightopdesigns.com/team-vienna)
• Hold a sign with “Team Vienna - your location” and take a picture. Pictures can be posted directly to Facebook (tag Denise Wunderler/Team Vienna 4 SUDC Awareness) or Instagram (@teamvienna4sudcawareness) with the hashtag #ViennasDay or email phoots to TeamVienna2018@yahoo.com.

For more information, visit the nonprofit site www.vienna.team.