The heartbroken family of a young boy who passed away after encountering a brain-eating amoeba in a lake has paid a heartfelt tribute to him.
In July, Jaysen Carr sadly lost his life following a swim in the man-made Lake Murray in South Carolina.
It was during a Fourth of July swim that the 12-year-old reportedly came into contact with Naegleria fowleri, a dangerous brain-eating amoeba that thrives in freshwater environments.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this amoeba commonly resides in soil, warm freshwater lakes, rivers, ponds, and hot springs worldwide. If it enters the human bloodstream, it can lead to primary amebic meningoencephalitis, an infection that destroys brain tissue.
Though these brain infections are rare, they are nearly always fatal, with victims usually succumbing within one to 18 days of infection.
The amoeba has been responsible for 163 fatalities in the United States from 1962 to 2024.
In the wake of this tragedy, Jaysen’s family and friends have been coping with the loss. They recently celebrated what would have been his 13th birthday on Friday, October 3, in his memory.
Jaysen’s mother, Ebony Carr, shared with WLTX: “We always gave him an option of a birthday party or a family trip, and he always chose to go to the beach.
“He said that he was going to wait until his 13th birthday to have a party, and we still have it, even though he’s not here.”
During the touching celebration at a trampoline park, attendees wore blue ‘Team Jaysen’ t-shirts adorned with sports symbols to honor Jaysen’s passion for baseball, basketball, and football.
Proceeds from the party were directed to the Jaysen Carr Be a Good Human Foundation, which his family established to support scholarships for student athletes at Dreher High School.
Clarence Carr, Jaysen’s father, spoke about the foundation created in his son’s honor: “It takes minimal effort to be a good human.
“It’s so much energy and effort to be bad, so why not treat someone the right way? Embrace your differences and come together and find a way to coexist.”
The tribute coincides with the family’s efforts to raise awareness about the often-overlooked dangers of amoeba.
Following his son’s passing, Clarence expressed: “I can’t believe we don’t have our son. The result of him being a child was losing his life. That does not sit well. And I am terrified it will happen to someone else.
“My son lost his life swimming. We assumed it was safe.”
After swimming in the lake, Jaysen began experiencing a headache and feeling unwell. He was rushed to the hospital, initially believed to have a ‘routine headache’, but tragically passed away in the ICU after a ‘fierce fight.’