Boy, 11, Dies After Severe Case of the Flu: ‘Jace Never Even Got to Open His Christmas Gifts’

An 11-year-old boy in Alabama has died after developing serious complications from the flu.

Jace Watkins died on Saturday, Dec. 27, after he was hospitalized following a severe bout of influenza, according to Fox 8.

Watkins was treated in the Children’s of Alabama intensive care unit. During his illness, he experienced seizures and struggled to breathe. Earlier in the week, his family said swelling left him without enough oxygen reaching his brain.

His aunt, Sabrina Parsons, told Fox 8 that Watkins had no underlying health issues. “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 a statement honoring him on Facebook on Dec. 28, writing that the community was grieving the sudden loss.

In her message, McClellan described Watkins as “a bright light” and asked for continued prayers for his family and the school community.

The school previously shared that a family friend organized a community prayer vigil for Watkins on Dec. 23.

A GoFundMe created to support Watkins’ family has raised more than $6,000 so far. The page says Watkins became sick and visited a doctor the next day, when he was told his “lungs sounded clear.” Days later, he reportedly had a seizure, was taken to the hospital and was diagnosed with the flu. The page adds that at one point Watkins was placed on a ventilator.

In a Facebook post on Dec. 28, Sabrina wrote that Watkins never got the chance to open his Christmas gifts. “This will forever weigh over our family,” she added.

Watkins’ grandmother, Joann Clayton Parsons, also posted a tribute and thanked the community for its support, writing that Watkins was deeply loved and that the outpouring of kindness meant a great deal to the family.

Cases of the flu have been rising across the United States, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, which showed a 14% increase in hospitalizations and a 4% increase in visits to a medical provider for respiratory illness.

The CDC also reported two pediatric flu deaths, the agency said. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, last flu season was the deadliest for children, with 288 pediatric deaths attributed to influenza.