16-Year-Old Seemed ‘Absolutely Fine’ on Christmas Day. Then Moments After Unwrapping Gifts, Her Heart Stopped

Moments after finishing Christmas morning celebrations at her family’s Alabama home, 16-year-old Scarlett Durden collapsed and went into cardiac arrest, according to her mother.

On Thursday, Dec. 25, Scarlett was at home in Piedmont with her family, enjoying what was meant to be a calm holiday morning. The family had been opening presents while FaceTiming Scarlett’s father, Marvy Durden II, who spent the day in the hospital awaiting a heart transplant.

After the gifts were opened, Scarlett began setting up her new computer, then decided to take a short break to grab a snack from the pantry. Her mother, Janice Durden, watched as her daughter—who appeared completely fine—left the bedroom where Janice remained on the phone with her husband.

Just minutes later, the family’s 12-year-old daughter, Shaylee, came rushing in with concern.

“Hey, Mom, Scarlett’s acting weird. She’s not talking to me,” she said.

Janice called out for Scarlett twice but received no response. When Shaylee returned, clearly frightened and repeating that something was wrong, Janice ran to the other room and ended the call with her husband.

“Scarlett was on the floor. I called 911,” Janice said, estimating that less than five minutes had passed since her daughter had gone to get food.

Janice began CPR and continued until first responders arrived and transported Scarlett to the hospital by ambulance.

“That was the last time I saw my daughter before the hospital,” she said.

Janice and Shaylee were driven to the hospital by a family member. While speaking with medical staff, Janice fainted and later woke up in a hospital bed. She was then told that, despite 90 minutes of resuscitation efforts, doctors were unable to revive Scarlett.

Autopsy results may take months, but Janice said hospital staff indicated the cause appeared to be sudden cardiac death, which the Mayo Clinic defines as an unexpected death within an hour caused by a heart-related issue.

When Janice called her husband of 17 years to tell him their daughter had died, she ensured medical staff were present in his room.

“I didn’t want him to have a cardiac event,” she said.

Marvy, 37, has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a condition in which the heart muscle thickens and struggles to pump blood effectively, according to the Mayo Clinic. His mother, aunt, and grandfather all died from heart-related issues, and recent complications led him to seek hospital care just before Christmas as he awaits a heart transplant.

Because of the family history, Janice and her husband made sure their pediatrician was aware while treating their children. Janice also has a 19-year-old daughter, Trinity, from a previous relationship, who now lives independently.

“We’ve always been upfront with their pediatricians about it,” Janice said, adding that the family had been waiting to hear back from a specialist to schedule cardiology appointments for the girls.

Aside from mild asthma, Scarlett appeared healthy and active. She participated in Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and had shown no warning signs.

“She was absolutely fine,” Janice said. “No chest pain, no shortness of breath, no complaints of feeling unwell. She was in front of me, and then she wasn’t.”

Just a month earlier, the family had moved from Carrollton, Georgia, to Piedmont, hoping for a fresh start. Scarlett had quickly made friends at her new school and had plans to join the military.

Family members remembered her as kind, funny, and full of life. A GoFundMe created to support the Durden family has raised more than $12,000.

Scarlett was especially close to her father and deeply protective of her younger sister.

“They may have fought like kids do,” Janice said. “But the moment her sister shed a tear, she was there.”

Since the loss, Shaylee has tried to stay strong. She has moved into Scarlett’s room to feel closer to her sister, talking about her and even laughing at memories they shared.

A funeral for Scarlett is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 3.