An 11-year-old boy from Alabama has died after suffering a severe case of the flu, a loss his family is now speaking about publicly. Jace Watkins passed away on Saturday, December 27, one week after being admitted to Children’s of Alabama, where he had been receiving intensive care.
Jace spent several days in the ICU after being diagnosed with influenza. During his hospitalization, he experienced seizures and at one point stopped breathing. His condition deteriorated further on Tuesday, according to relatives.
Family members told Fox 8 that Jace developed swelling in his brain that did not go down, limiting the amount of oxygen reaching it. His aunt, Sabrina Parsons, said he had no serious preexisting medical conditions. While he had been born prematurely and once used inhalers years earlier, he had otherwise been healthy.
Parsons explained that Jace repeatedly told family members he felt fine. Later that night, however, he began vomiting and then suffered a seizure. In a heartfelt Facebook post shared on December 28, she expressed her grief, writing that Jace never had the chance to open his Christmas presents and questioning how the family could move forward. She said the loss would forever weigh on them.
Jace was a fifth-grade student at Hueytown Intermediate School. Following his death, the school’s principal released a statement expressing deep sorrow, describing Jace as a joyful presence whose kindness and smile touched everyone around him. The school community was asked to keep his family in their prayers as they cope with the devastating loss.
A GoFundMe campaign has since been launched to help support Jace’s family. By December 30, more than $13,000 had been raised. The fundraiser states that Jace passed away around 9:40 p.m. on December 27 and thanks the community for its prayers and support. The funds will assist with medical expenses and funeral arrangements, while loved ones continue to ask for strength during this difficult time.
The fundraiser also details the rapid progression of Jace’s illness, noting that he became sick on Thursday, visited a doctor on Friday and was told his lungs were clear, before suffering a seizure the following day. After being rushed to the hospital, he was diagnosed with the flu and placed on a ventilator in critical condition, with uncertainty surrounding his brain activity.
Jace’s grandmother, Joann Clayton Parsons, also shared a message on Facebook expressing gratitude for the overwhelming support from the community. She wrote that Jace was deeply loved and that while the family’s hearts are broken, the kindness shown to them and to Jace meant more than words could express.
