FORT WORTH, Texas – A 9-year-old boy who was healthy enough to go to class one day died of COVID-19 at Cook Children’s Hospital a few days later.
According to family posts on social media, Jason “JJ” Boatman studied at Central Elementary School in Vernon, northwest of Wichita Falls.
Vernon ISD confirmed he was on campus on Friday and passed away on Tuesday after a positive test for COVID-19.
“He was running around playing one day and that night he was having trouble breathing. He was flown to Fort Worth, where he was placed on a ventilator and the doctor said his lungs were full of fluid and his brain had swelled from lack oxygen, “wrote a relative on his GoFundMe page.
Family members described JJ, who recently turned 9, as “always happy and full of life”.
“He was very strong and held out for more than 12 hours, but in the end COVID-19 claimed another young victim,” says the GoFundMe page.
Central Elementary was closed on Tuesday and all students and staff were instructed to quarantine until at least February 1st.
Vernon ISD said the school will be disinfected and grieving counselors will be available to students when they return.
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