BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – An 11-year-old boy from Hueytown has died Saturday evening after complications from a severe case of the flu, family members tell WBRC.
Jace Watkins was hospitalized at Children’s of Alabama after being diagnosed with the flu just days before Christmas. He began having seizures, and at one point, he stopped breathing. Watkins remained in critical condition in the ICU, fighting for his life.
Watkins condition worsened late Tuesday night. According to the family, Watkins was suffering from swelling in his brain that had not subsided, preventing adequate oxygen from reaching his brain. His grandfather, Scott Parsons, described the situation as overwhelming and difficult to process, likening it to a force moving forward without pause.
Family members of Watkins told WBRC earlier in the week that Jace had no major underlying health issues.
“He was a premature baby, but other than that he’s had inhalers and stuff, but that’s been years ago. He was telling everybody he was fine, he felt fine, and then I guess he started throwing up that night and then he had a seizure,” Jace’s aunt, Sabrina Parsons, said.
Watkins was a 5th grade student at Hueytown Intermediate.
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