A family in Braintree, England, is heartbroken after the sudden death of an 11-year-old boy named Frankie-Rae Law, who appeared to be perfect only hours before his death.
Frankie-Rae complained only of a sore throat on Friday, Nov. 14. His mother Keleigh, 33, took him to their local clinic, worried but calm. The doctor reassured her it was nothing serious – just a virus – and they went home believing he would bounce back quickly.
But in an instant, everything would change that night.
Frankie-Rae had been having a great day, laughing and joking at home, playing around the house. Then, without warning, he came into the living room gasping for air, his eyes full of fear. “He came in struggling to breathe, with a look I will never forget,” his mother remembered.
A little after 1:40 a.m., he was awake and joking. At 1:43, he couldn’t breathe. Panic set in; he started to pace around the room, then suddenly was silent. Moments later, he collapsed in the bathroom. His lips went grey. He wasn’t responding.
Keleigh’s mom came in and performed CPR for almost 30 minutes. They had a glimpse of hope that he might make it-he got pink lips again and opened his eyes-but that glimpse disappeared in an instant.
Paramedics arrived and whisked him away to Broomfield Hospital, where doctors gently said his chances of survival were minuscule, and even if he pulled through, it was likely he would suffer severe brain damage.
They asked Keleigh if she wanted to hold his hand when they took him off the ventilator. She sat beside her son, kissed him, and stayed with him as he slipped away at 3:30 a.m. on Saturday.
Doctors still do not know what caused the sudden emergency, and answers are desperately needed by the family.
“I feel like I failed him,” Keleigh said through tears. “He was my best friend.”
Messages of love have poured in from friends, neighbours, and even strangers. Everyone remembers his bright smile.
“His smile lit up every room,” said his mother. “I just want to be with my son.”
