sat . A Family’s Nightmare: Jace, 11, Dies of Flu Just Days Before Christmas

NEED TO KNOW

• Alabama boy Jace Watkins, 11, died on Dec. 27 after being hospitalized due to complications from the flu
• A GoFundMe page for Watkins stated that he suffered a seizure days after falling ill
• Sabrina Parsons, his aunt, wrote on Facebook, “Jace never even got to open his Christmas gifts … What do we even do now?”

An 11-year-old boy in Alabama died after a severe case of the flu. 

Jace Watkins died on Saturday, Dec. 27, after being hospitalized due to complications from the flu, according to Fox 8.

The boy received treatment from the Children’s of Alabama intensive care unit. During his illness, he suffered seizures and had trouble breathing. 

Earlier in the week, his family said he was not receiving enough oxygen to his brain due to swelling.

Watkins’ aunt, Sabrina Parsons, said he had no underlying health issues, per Fox 8. “He was a premature baby, but other than that, he’s had inhalers and stuff, but that’s been years ago,” she said. “He was telling everybody he was fine, he felt fine. And then, I guess he started throwing up that night and had a seizure.”

Watkins was a fifth-grade student at Hueytown Intermediate School. The school’s principal Cari McClellan shared an emotional statement in honor of the boy via Facebook on Dec. 28, writing, “Our hearts are broken this morning. … Jace Watkins passed away last night after a brief and sudden illness. There really aren’t words to adequately describe what we’re feeling right now.”

McClellan continued, “Jace was a bright light to everyone who knew him. His sweet genuine smile will be missed by all.  Please continue to pray for his family, and our school family, as we all work to navigate this unimaginable loss.”

A family friend organized a community prayer vigil for the boy on Dec. 23, the school shared in a previous statement.

A GoFundMe created for Watkins and his family has raised more than $6,000 so far.

The description for the page stated that Watkins fell ill and visited a doctor the following day. He was told, at the time, that his “lungs sounded clear.” Days later, he had a seizure and was taken to the hospital where he was diagnosed with the flu.

The page said, at one point, Watkins was placed on a ventilator. 

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Sabrina made an emotional Facebook post on Dec. 28, writing, “I just want to say.. Jace never even got to open his Christmas gifts … What do we even do now?”

She continued: “This will forever weigh over our family.”

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Watkins’ grandmother, Joann Clayton Parsons, also paid tribute to the boy and thanked the community for their support. “I just want to think each and every one of you for all the sweet kind words and the prayers for my sweet great grandson Jace Watkins,” she wrote in a Facebook post.

“He was so loved by everyone [and] our hearts are [broken], but you will never know what it meant to us for y’all to show so much love to us and to Jace,” Joann said.

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Cases of the flu continue to be on the rise in the United States, with the most recent data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control showing a 14% increase in hospitalizations and a 4% increase in visits to a medical care provider for respiratory illness.

Two pediatric deaths from the flu were also reported, the agency said. Per the American Academy of Pediatrics, last year’s flu season hit a tragic milestone as the most fatal for children, with 288 kids dying from influenza.