11-year-old boy dies after battling severe case of the flu, family says

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC/Gray News) - An 11-year-old Alabama boy has died a week after he was hospitalized due to complications from a severe case of the flu, family members say.

Jace Watkins, 11, died Saturday night, a week after he was hospitalized in the intensive care unit at Children’s of Alabama. Diagnosed with the flu, he began having seizures, and, at one point, stopped breathing.

Jace’s condition worsened late Tuesday night. His family says he was suffering from swelling in his brain that had not subsided, preventing adequate oxygen from reaching his brain.

The 11-year-old’s grandfather, Scott Parsons, described the situation as overwhelming and difficult to process, likening it to a force moving forward without pause.

Jace was a fifth grader at Hueytown Intermediate. Family members say he had no major underlying health issues.

“He was a premature baby, but other than that, he’s had inhalers and stuff, but that’s been years ago. He was telling everybody he was fine, he felt fine. And then, I guess he started throwing up that night and had a seizure,” said Jace’s aunt, Sabrina Parsons.

After Jace’s death, Cari McClellan, the Hueytown principal, released the following statement:

“Our hearts are broken this morning. 5th grader Jace Watkins passed away last night after a brief and sudden illness. There really aren’t words to adequately describe what we’re feeling right now. Jace was a bright light to everyone who knew him. His sweet genuine smile will be missed by all. Please continue to pray for his family, and our school family, as we all work to navigate this unimaginable loss.”

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