Kids & Family

Holmdel's Bell Works Tower Will Be Lit Pink Saturday In Memory Of Toddler Who Died

This Saturday, the Bell Works water tower in Holmdel will be lit up pink in memory of a local little girl who died suddenly at age 2.

(Team Vienna 4 SUDC Awareness)

HOLMDEL, NJ — This Saturday, Jan. 17, the Bell Works water tower in Holmdel will be lit up pink in memory of a local little girl who died suddenly at 2 and a half years old.

This will be the sixth consecutive year the water tower will be illuminated in memory of Vienna Carly Savino. In 2017, the little girl, a healthy child, tragically died at 2 1/2 years of age. She fell asleep while watching TV at her parents' home in Holmdel and never woke up. Her death was categorized as Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC), which is SIDS but occurs in children ages 1 – 18 years old.

After her daughter's death, former Holmdel resident Dr. Denise Wunderler started the non-profit Team Vienna 4 SUDC Awareness, which raises money and awareness about SUDC, which is virtually unknown in the medical community. Even most physicians have never heard of SUDC, as was the case with Vienna’s parents, who are both physicians who lived in Holmdel at the time of their daughter's death.

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There are no causes and no preventative measures known for SUDC. Vienna’s genetic studies (as part of research studies) did not reveal a cause of death.

Robert’s Program at Boston Children’s Hospital is the most advanced, comprehensive SUDC study that focuses on the child, in their search for answers for the family," said Wunderler. “We miss Vienna so much, and can’t believe this will be another birthday we will celebrate without her. Child loss is a devastating journey that continues for life. We are thankful for all the support and love shown to us by the community."

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Bell Works in Holmdel will continue to support Team Vienna, as they have for many years, by lighting their iconic 60-foot tower pink on Saturday, January 17, Vienna’s favorite color, for her 11th heavenly birthday.

Also, there will be some giveaways inside Bell Works Saturday:

From 4 – 8 p.m. at OasisVRX virtual reality inside Bell Works, Vienna’s birthday specials include:
- Donate $40 or more to Team Vienna for a $50 gift card at OasisVRX (1 hour of virtual reality)
- Stunning pink Vienna roses, donated by Enchanted Blossoms florist
- Donations accepted for Team Vienna shirts, charms, film bracelets, and NEW pink sparkly SUDC awareness lapel pins
- High quality designer “Where Peace Begins” Vienna natural stone bracelets only $38 while supplies last (retails online $48)

For more information or to donate to Team Vienna/Robert’s Program, please visit: https://vienna.team/how-to-help

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