Natalie Brunell/KCRA
Family and friends are mourning the untimely death of a 12-year-old boy, Aaron Nguyen, who collapsed at basketball practice at his school in Elk Grove. Emergency and hospital staff were unable to revive him.
A cause of death is not yet known, according to the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office.
12-year-old Aaron Nguyen passed away after collapsing during basketball practice. (Photo: Branded AAU/YBDAcadamy Facebook)
A student at Toby Johnson Middle School, Aaron was a member of the age 12-and-under BRANDED team of the Elk Grove-based Youth Basketball Development Academy. An Amateur Athletic Union basketball organization, BRANDED stands for “Being Renewed And Newly Developed Every Day.”
Nguyen said he always gave the sport 110 percent, even when he didn’t feel that way off the court. Aaron’s family said that as a baby, he had a heart murmur.
“After a year or two they did the exam and told me it’s completely healed,” Nguyen said.
But Aaron would sometimes get tired after running, although there was nothing that alarmed his family.
“Nothing to indicate that he has a heart problem,” Nguyen said.
On Friday, Aaron told his dad he didn’t want to go to basketball practice, but then he laid down for a nap and eventually changed his mind. He asked his parents to take him to practice.
“We had no idea,” Nguyen said. “It’s really shocking. He’s young and healthy.”
As they wait for answers about how Aaron died, the Nguyens are clinging to their faith. The family are devout Catholics.
“God has his own purpose,” Nguyen said, as he broke down into tears. “He was a really good kid and very good at everything and we still don’t understand the reason for God taking him so soon.”
They hope the community remembers Aaron’s smile.
http://www.kcra.com/news/basketball-meant-everything-to-boy-who-died-at-practice/37605730
