Too Young

In August I posted about 18-year-old Antoine Thomas who had a heart attack, he is doing fine. Unfortunately though too many young folks are dying from heart attacks and other ailments. Two years ago, a second grader died from an unknown heart aliment. These are children who apparently had physicals because they played sports.

This week we lost a 13-year-old and a 17- year- old. The 13-year-old girl who collapsed at her school and later died had a previously undiagnosed heart ailment that could have contributed to her death, Madison County's coroner said. Nonn said the girl collapsed in a stairwell at Alton Middle School shortly after 1 p.m. Monday, apparently while returning to class after lunch, and died less than an hour later in a hospital emergency room after efforts to revive her failed. Raevin did not suffer any chronic illness, though authorities determined she had been sent home sick from school last Thursday before returning to school Monday, Nonn said.The previously undiagnosed heart disease uncovered during the autopsy "could result in a lethal consequence," Nonn said in a news release.

At Vashon High School, 17- year old senior Cortez Riney collapsed and apparently had a seizure during first period, shortly after 8 a.m. The teacher called security officers and 911, but efforts to revive Cortez failed. He was taken to Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. In a letter sent to parents, school administrators said Cortez had a pre-existing medical condition but did not specify what it was, St. Louis Public Schools spokesman Tony Sanders said. Grief counselors were at the school Monday afternoon and will return today. Cortez was described as a good kid with excellent attendance, Sanders said. He said students and staff members were in shock Monday. In Alton, family members said Raevin Hutson wanted to be a lawyer when she grew up — she liked to argue. And she was athletic, they said.
"A 13-year-old girl in great condition, not overweight, a good size … I just don't get it," said Raevin's mother, Dana Nall, 36. "I don't get it. Divine intervention. God takes the good ones."

For all of us who have children we need to get them physicals and monitor their health closely but still that is not good enough so we have to pray and not cease from praying that God keeps our children safe, healthy and in his care.
Most of this information was taken from the St. Louis Post Dispatch Newspaper.