A 17-year-old high school football player is brain dead after he collapsed during a game.
Jacquez Welch from St Petersburg, Florida, was rushed to hospital where doctors found a pre-existing brain condition that nobody knew about.
His mother Marcia Nelson said the family were working on making their son an organ donor so he can save seven lives, according to ABC Action News.
Doctors said Jacquez was born with arteriovenous malformation (AVM) which is an abnormal connection between the arteries and veins in the brain.
Just pray pic.twitter.com/UyEk7REDdZ
— Northeast Football (@NEHI_Football) September 22, 2019
His mom Marcia said her son’s collapse had nothing to do with the sport he was playing.
“I don’t want anybody to be scared of sports,” she said. “It just happened to him at an early age, doing what he loved to do.”
She said the family planned to take him off life support and were working on making him an organ donor.
“I am content. This is not anything I could control,” his mom added.
‘I was so proud of him’
Jacquez has a 4.0 GPA and just received a full ride scholarship to Concordia University, according to ABC Action News.
“I was so proud of him. He was just worried about getting to college,” said his father Tory Larkins.
Coach Jeremy Frioud said Jacquez was “one of the hardest players on the team.”
According to ABC Action News doctors say there was no way to prevent Jazquez’s condition.
“It literally is a ticking time bomb in the head and there is no way to predict when this will happen nor who is walking around with this,” Neurosurgeon Kirk Jobe said.
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— Northeast Football (@NEHI_Football) September 24, 2019
Absolutely heartbreaking but what an amazing Momma to have his organs donated.
He will now live on in others. Sending much prayer and love to this family ❤️?
Sending peace and strength to Jacquez’s family.
Please share to pay tribute to a model student and successful football player. Rest in Peace Jazquez.
