Don Craig (Jed Allan) and his wife, Marlena (Deidre Hall), had it all - including a happy marriage and a new addition to their family But when tragedy struck, their lives would never again be the same. Don and Marlena fought tooth and nail to be together. Their wedding was the culmination of years of struggles, and soon, their happiness expanded to include a son. The birth of Don Jr, whom they called D.J., was a joyous occasion, despite the anxious moments over his being born premature. When they finally took D.J. home, everything was perfect. One night, while Don was out, Marlena found herself entertaining Maggie Horton (Suzanne Rogers). The two women were talking when Marlena decided to check on little DJ. who was lying in his crib. The baby appeared to be sleeping, but when Marlena tried to wake him, he didn't move. A hysterical Marlena called for Maggie, who looked at the boy and immediately called Dr. Neil Curtis (Joseph Gallison). Neil pronounced DJ. dead, a result of SIDS Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Marlena was in shock, and Deidre Hall's grief-stricken portrayal dazzled viewers.

Don and Marlena's marriage disintegrated after the tragedy, as Don blamed his wile for the death of DJ, accusing her of not taking adequate care of herself during the pregnancy Marlena eventually came to accept the fact that she had not been responsible for her son's death. This storyline helped to educate the audience about the tragedy of SIDS, which, for most viewers, was the first time they'd ever heard of it.

Contributed by Stacy Krugman from a soap magazine.

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