14-year-old girl dies after Ohio sledding accident; father dies at hospital of heart attack
AKRON, Ohio — A 14-year-old Akron girl who was injured in a sledding accident died days after her father died of a heart attack while trying to visit his daughter at the hospital, the girl’s mother posted on Facebook.
Eirelyn Zuercher was hospitalized at MetroHealth Medical Center on Saturday after the sledding incident at the Cleveland Metroparks Hinckley Reservation in Medina County, according to her mother, Katie Dougherty Zuercher. As they arrived at the hospital, Eirelyn’s father, Jared, suffered a massive heart attack and died.
Eirelyn suffered a “detrimental brain injury” and was taken off on life support on Wednesday, her mother said. She was an organ donor and helped save five people.
Prior to Eirelyn being taken off life support, Dougherty Zuercher wrote: “Her daddy got to heaven just before she did, just like he got to the finish line first in every Mario Kart game they ever played together. She used to wait on the front porch for him to arrive home to greet him with the biggest hug before he could even get in the house. I imagine he is waiting for her now with the same eager anticipation.”
Eirelyn Zuercher was hospitalized at MetroHealth Medical Center on Saturday after the sledding incident, according to her mother, Katie Dougherty Zuercher. As they arrived at the hospital, Eirelyn’s father, Jared, suffered a massive heart attack and died. https://t.co/3zKUZXdl8b
— clevelanddotcom (@clevelanddotcom) February 27, 2021
In a statement to cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer, Dougherty Zuercher said, “I am so grateful for the support I have received since the tragic accident. The staff at MetroHealth and Lifebanc graciously carried my family through some of the most difficult hours of our lives. It is a gift to know that my daughter’s generous spirit will carry on through the lives of organ donor recipients.”
Eirelyn was a student at Spring Garden Waldorf School in Copley and had been accepted to St. Vincent-St. Mary High School — her mother’s alma mater.
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