Sacramento Mom Upset Baby's Gravestone Wasn't Ready For Christmas

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — A mother in mourning after the death of her infant daughter was left waiting more than a year for a headstone for her baby's grave.

Renee Brown's baby Nalasia passed away from sudden infant death syndrome in November of 2012.

"She was a great baby," Renee said. "It's been very hard. I've never gone through anything like this."

After her death, Nalasia was laid to rest at the Sacramento Memorial Lawn, next to other children who have passed away.

It took her almost a year to bring herself to visit her baby's grave, but she decided to on the anniversary of Nalasia's death.

"I'm looking and I'm looking, and I don't see anything," she said.

She says despite confirmation from Sacramento Memorial Lawn that it had been done, Nalasia's gravestone was never placed.

"I had to go back to the funeral home, and I don't see the marker that was paid for, because I received an installation letter," she said.

But she was told it was never ordered because of a clerical issue. She says she was promised in November that the stone would be ordered and installed.

"Before the 24th of December, so I could go for Christmas," she said. "That didn't happen."

Renee said she was terrified that with no marker in place, her baby's grave would be accidentally dug up.

"It just feels like she's in a risky situation, that she's vulnerable to be forgotten," she said.

When CBS13 went to Memorial Lawn to get answers, we were told we would receive a comment, but never did.

But by Thursday afternoon, Nalasia's gravestone was where it was supposed to be, and has offered a refund for the gravestone.

It's some consolation for Renee, but not enough.

"I'm hurt, I'm very upset about this," she said.