Braintree Couple Creates Fund For Son Who Died From E. Coli
BRAINTREE (CBS) – A Braintree couple has founded a charity to remember their 8-year-old son, Joshua.
Joshua Kaye recently contracted a curable form of E. Coli and was sent to a hospital. He died of complications from the illness 10 days later.
"He just proceeded to get worse. His kidneys failed," his mother, Melissa Kaye told WBZ NewsRadio 1030. "I wouldn't wish it on the most evil person on the planet."
Josh's mother and father are painfully aware of how rare it is for someone to die as a result of contracting e-coli.
"Infections with this strain of E. Coli are not that common, yet people still do generally make a full recovery," according to WBZ medical expert Dr. Mallika Marshall. "Even if [patients] need to be hospitalized, they do get better with time. It is not that common to die from an infection with this type of E. Coli."
In Josh's case, he developed complications that eventually led to kidney failure and eventually to a stroke that took his life.
To keep their son's spirit alive, the couple has founded a charity to support their son's passion – helping animals. Joshua had recently completed volunteer training at the New England Wildlife Center. Joshua once raised money to help dolphins.
"From the beginning we said, 'the only way we will ever be able to live on after him, is if we remember him well,'" said Melissa Kaye.
CLICK HERE for more information about the charity.
WBZ-TV's Jim Armstrong contributed to this report.
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