MT. ORAB, Ohio — A 17-year-old boy has died after suffering "cardiac arrest activity" and a seizure Monday, according to the boy's family.
A statement from Western Brown Local Schools superintendent Raegan White said Blaze Jacobs, a junior at Western Brown High School, was transported to Cincinnati Children's Hospital.
His community, family and friends remember Jacobs as someone who put a smile on everyone's face. His sister said he was the kind of person you could never be sad around.
"He never had a bad day, he always smiled," his mom, Becky, said.
One of his friends from school shared how well-liked he was by his classmates.
"Every room that he'd walked into (would) just lift up as soon as he'd walk in," JoHannah Klette said.
He was also a big fan of Western Brown sports teams.
"He was Mr. Friday Night, they called him because Friday Night Football was his thing," his dad, Joe, said.
Jacobs went to as many games as he could.
"He watched and waited to see him and his 'boys' at the football game on the news after every game," his sister, Zoey, said. "It was hard to get him to stay home even if he was sick."
Blaze also defied the odds in some ways. His mother said he was developmentally delayed. Doctors said he may never talk, but he did.
"I asked him if he wanted to go to the store, he said, "no, Joey," and I had to turn around and walk away because he said my name, not 'Dad,' but 'Joey,'" Joe said.
About a year ago, he was diagnosed with a heart condition, but his death was still a shock for his friends and family.
"I knew one day he may never always be here with me, but I didn't expect it now," Becky said. "He's going to be missed big time."
Now, the community is coming together to support Blaze's family.
A GoFundMe account set up by people who said they're friends of the Jacobs family said the teen had a medical emergency during school and was rushed to the hospital "along with getting CPR for over an hour."
There were also two t-shirt fundraisers set up with proceeds going to the Jacobs family. Western Brown High School made one and is encouraging people to wear the t-shirts to the high's school basketball game Friday. Angela Powers, a family member, also made a fundraiser.
"I'm a private, quiet person, I stay in my home. I wasn't expecting any of this," Becky said.
But everyone in the community who knew Jacobs has been sharing memories and support for his family.
"Blaze was loved by so many and was the light of so many people's (lives)," Powers wrote on Facebook.
Klette shared a favorite memory.
"One time I got a text from him ... and he's like, "I drew this picture of you, JoJo, because I miss you and you're not here with me right now.' And that really — it made me cry then and thinking back on it now, it's just really sweet to be known to him like that."
The school district has already brought in support for students and staff at Western Brown High School and said additional counselors will be on-site again Wednesday.
"Blaze was a very large part of our school community and one of WB's biggest fans so we know this is going to be a struggle for everyone in our school family," read White's statement.
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