DANVILLE — Soon after the death of his 2½-year-old granddaughter Reagan, Greg Williams was advised to turn his grief into positive action. Then, that advice seemed impossible to follow.

Mourner

Greg and his wife, Marsha, parents of five children, were overwhelmed by their first grandchild’s death. Reagan was their only son’s daughter with his then-girlfriend, Tracy Green.

The Vermilion County coroner attributed Reagan’s death to Shaken Baby Syndrome. At the time of the toddler’s death, she and Green lived with Ryan Allhands who was charged with Reagan’s murder a year later. Reagan died in July 2006; the trial is scheduled to begin in March 2009.

In the months and years since then, grieving family members and their friends have worked diligently so that the tiny, red-haired child’s death might have a positive impact on other children’s lives. Reagan’s Rescue, a fund that seeks to provide Shaken Baby Syndrome education and prevent incidents of shaken baby syndrome, was established with donations made following her death.

Speaker

Earlier this month, Greg Williams traveled to Canada to attend the North American Conference on Shaken Baby Syn-drome. He didn’t go as simply an attendee — conference organizers invited him to speak at this international event attended this year by about 1,200 people.

“We were invited because of how much (the organizers felt) we had done in a short time to raise SBS awareness through Reagan’s Rescue,” Williams said.

His presentation, titled “One Small Candle: Creating an Advocacy Group,” detailed the fund’s creation in step-by-step fashion. Those who wish to do the same type of advocacy could use his presentation as a model.

The conference, held in Vancouver, British Columbia, gave Williams the chance to meet in person many of the friends he’s made researching Shaken Baby Syndrome on the Internet. It’s been an invaluable tool in connecting with families of other Shaken Baby Syndrome victims.

Some of those victims survived their attacks and accompanied their relatives to the conference. Others died as a result of being shaken.

Friend

Pam Rowse, a nurse from Las Vegas, has been involved in the Shaken Baby Syndrome network since her 14-month-old granddaughter Kierra was shaken to death in March 1997. Rowse co-founded the National Shaken Baby Coalition and was one of the contacts Williams made online but never met in person.

“Greg was a delight to meet,” Rowse said after the conference. “He’s done a phenomenal job with Reagan’s Rescue.

“At the conference, he pulled everyone in the room together,” she said. “He makes people feel comfortable with what’s an uncomfortable topic.”

This has been the main goal of Reagan’s Rescue. Thanks to the generosity of the community, Williams said, significant strides have been made.

“So much of what has happened came to us spontaneously,” Williams said. “Donations in Reagan’s memory started coming in immediately after her death. We started a separate account for them before we decided what we’d do with them.

“We’ve designed certain fundraisers, like the pink and purple silicone bracelets we sell, but it’s the community response that’s made our mission a success,” he said.

Activist

Those funds have been used for radio public service announcements and billboards. They’ve supported efforts to have a Shaken Baby Syndrome curriculum included in high school health classes in Vermilion County.

Reagan’s Rescue donated to Your Family Resource Connection a playroom filled with toys for children whose mothers seek help from the Domestic Violence Program there.

Future plans include placing poster size versions of the Shaken Baby Syndrome awareness billboards in places where young people congregate. Williams also wants to institute a national push for more intensive training of medical personnel about it.

Warrior

When Williams was advised after Reagan’s death to turn his grief into positive action, the person giving the advice was even more specific. “You have to become a warrior for her,” he was told.

Greg Williams has, not just for his granddaughter but for other children whose names he’ll never know.