Holmdel resident Dr. Denise Wunderler, founder and president of
501c3 nonprot Team ienna 4 SDC Awareness Inc., is no stranger
to loss. On Nov. 12, 2017, she lost her daughter, Vienna, who was
a few months shy of her third birthday, to Sudden Unexplained Death in
Childhood (SUDC).
“My healthy daughter fell asleep while watching TV and tragically never
woke up,” Wunderler said. “Despite both my husband and I being physicians,
we never heard of SUDC until it happened to us. This is not
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. SUDC is a category of death in
children ages 1 to18 years old, which remains unexplained after
a thorough investigation, including an autopsy.” (Vienna and her
parents are enrolled in a research study, and even Vienna’s genetic
studies did not reveal a cause.) “SUDC is one of the most
under-recognized medical tragedies of our time, and shockingly
is scarcely known in the medical community.”
Most recently, Wunderler lost her sister, Carol Wunderler
Strohe, on Nov. 30, 2019 at age 54 after a battle against stage 4
urothelial carcinoma.
“Carol fought hard for close to three years and persevered,
despite all odds,” Wunderler said. “Even in her nal days, she
never gave up. During her last week on Earth, strength permitting,
she would still go for walks and do leg lifts while sitting in
her chair.”
In spring 2019, Carol traveled from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
to Ocean Grove to spend a “magical” weekend at Mary’s Place
by the Sea. The nonprot facility is a retreat haven for women with
cancer to help them heal in mind, body and soul.
“Carol was originally scheduled to visit Mary’s Place in 2020,
34 APRIL 2020 | TheJournalNJ.com
however she would have never made it,” Wunderler said. “When I met her
for dinner that Saturday evening, she couldn’t express enough praise about
the people, the services, the house, the food, the conversation, everything.
She had an instant bond with the women she met. I was so impressed with
everything she shared, and I am extremely thankful she was able to undergo
this incredible experience.”
In spite of her loss and with a focus on hope, Wunderler continues
her crusade to raise awareness. She and her Team Vienna for SUDC Awareness
will be participating in Mary’s Place by the Sea’s ninth annual Walk-AThon/
2nd annual 5K in memory of Vienna Carly Savino and Carol Wunderler
Strohe. The event will take place on Saturday, May 16 from 9 am to 3 pm
at Ocean Avenue and Ocean Pathway in Ocean Grove.
“Coincidentally, May 16 is also our third annual Vienna’s Day of International
SUDC Awareness to increase global awareness,” Wunderler said.
“During our inaugural Vienna’s Day in 2018, my determined sister, Carol,
walked the entire 5K in Sea Bright, in the cold, wind and rain, and crossed
the nish line with our family and older sister, Diane Wunderler Hubka, in
1 1/2 hours, while battling weakness and being unable to feel her feet due
to side effects of her cancer treatment.”
On May 16, 2019, the second annual anniversary, Team Vienna was
represented on seven continents and more than 70 locations worldwide.
Wunderler hopes that representation grows even more this year so others
will learn of Vienna’s story and SUDC, and also learn about Mary’s Place and
the extraordinary respite it offers.
“My sister was a huge supporter of Team Vienna and attended many
events,” She said. “Prior to her death, she and her family decided in lieu of
owers at her funeral, they would reuest donations to Team Vienna. My
family was so touched. In life and in death, my sister is an incredibly giving,
caring and inspirational human being.”
For more information about Team Vienna and SUDC, visit TeamViennaSUDC.
org.
GIVING
BACK
In the Wake of Loss, Team Vienna
Walks with Mary’s Place for Hope
BY DEIRDRE FLANAGAN WARD
CarolnerlerSroeireieloserienssemeaMarysPlae
Dr.DenisenerlerCarolnerlerSroeDianenerleraanamilynise
5K together in May 2018 in Sea Bright.
/TheJournalNJ.com