“HE WAS ONLY 13…” — MIDDLE SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYER DIES AFTER SUDDEN MEDICAL EMERGENCY AT PRACTICE

A North Carolina community is mourning the heartbreaking loss of 13-year-old Caden Sorrell, a middle school football player who suffered a sudden medical emergency during practice.

Caden, a student at Northwest Guilford Middle School in Greensboro, experienced sudden cardiac arrest during football practice on Aug. 30, according to his family.

A DESPERATE FIGHT TO SAVE HIM

Caden was rushed to Cone Hospital, where doctors used advanced life-support treatment, including ECMO, a system that can temporarily take over the work of the heart and lungs.

Despite those efforts, his family said the damage was ultimately too severe.

The 13-year-old could not be saved.

A FAMILY LEFT HEARTBROKEN

Caden’s loss has devastated his family.

He leaves behind a twin brother and three other siblings, who are now facing an unimaginable loss.

His family has also revealed that doctors believe an underlying genetic condition may have contributed to what happened.

The condition has not been publicly identified, and Caden’s exact medical cause of death has not been released. His four siblings are expected to undergo testing.

HIS FOOTBALL FAMILY IS RALLYING AROUND HIM

At Northwest Guilford Middle School, grief has spread throughout the community.

A memorial has been created outside the school where students, teammates, teachers and other members of the community can leave flowers, notes and messages of remembrance.

The school’s football team is also planning a vigil for Caden on Sept. 2.

“THERE ARE NO RIGHT WORDS”

School officials have urged students and families to support one another during the difficult days ahead.

For Caden’s teammates, classmates and loved ones, the football field where he once practiced has now become a place of remembrance.

He was only 13.

He had a twin brother, teammates, friends and a family who loved him — and a future that should have stretched far beyond that football practice.

Now, an entire community is coming together to remember Caden Sorrell and stand beside the family he left behind.