An 11-year-old boy died suddenly of a flesh-eating infection after spraining his ankle during exercise.
according to Fox 35, his cousin Megan Brown said Jesse Brown from Winter Park, Florida, had been running on the treadmill a few weeks ago when he suddenly injured his ankle. While it appeared that the child only suffered a sprained ankle, it was not the case. A few days after the accident, his mother woke up to a terrifying sight. He found that his “legs were all covered like splotchy, purply, red, almost like bruises.”
From there, chaos ensued for the Brown family. Jesse was immediately admitted to the ICU, where doctors surprisingly revealed that he had a Group A Strep infection caused by Group A Streptococcus bacteria. For those who don’t know, Strep A can occur after a Group A Streptococcus infection – including strep throat, scarlet fever, fasciitis necrotizing, rheumatic fever, impetigo, etc. Infections can become severe if the bacteria enter tissues outside of where they normally live. And in Jesse’s case, his condition was dire.
Related: 4-Year-Old Kicked Out of Hospital & Almost Dies in Battle With Flesh-Eating Bacteria!
Within days, the infection was fatal. Jesse developed flesh-eating necrotizing fasciitis (also known as flesh-eating bacteria), which caused his brain to swell. While the doctors did everything they could, the child did not survive. Just heartbreaking. He is very young…
His brother told the outlet that doctors believe the infection was triggered by a treadmill injury, explaining:
“They said that because he twisted his ankle, that was the infection. Because he was weak. To kill him in just a few days, it’s crazy. If there was more awareness, maybe we could have caught it earlier when we saw that he had a fever.
Since his death, Megan has made a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Jesse’s funeral services and hospital bills. He shared that his brother was a “child wonder,” adding:
“Her parents were told they would never have children. She had given up, and after 10 years of trying, she was blessed with Jesse Ryder Brown. The miracle was taken from us too far. … His parents, Betsy and Brad, gave everything to this boy. His whole life revolved around him. She was devastated, but who wouldn’t be for a miracle baby.
Megan also shared that “Jesse is a happy, healthy kid who is destined for great things”:
“His passion is racing motorcycles and he also dabbles in Muay Thai. He was racing BMX bikes when he was three. Everyone Jesse met loved him. He was funny, had an infectious laugh, and he just lit up a room.”
His school Lakemont Elementary also started a memorial fund for Jesse’s family, remembering how the student always made “make sure everyone starts the day with a smile.” He wrote:
“While Jesse is a miracle to his parents and family, he is also a true blessing to the Lakemont Family. Jesse is kind and compassionate, looks out for others, adventurous, and is an amazing friend and classmate. He also knows how to make the most of fun times with friends outside and life to the fullest with BMX and dirt bike racing. Jesse works hard and has a big heart. He is one of the patrollers who works to keep the school safe, but also works to make sure everyone starts their day with a smile. Everyone who knew Jesse didn’t love him.”
Clearly, he was loved by many. My heart goes out to Jesse’s family during this difficult time. You can donate to the family’s GoFundMe here.
[Image via GoFundMe]