A 13-year-old from Normal has died after being critically injured in a house fire a week ago, school officials said Saturday.
Edder Diaz was a seventh-grader at Parkside Junior High School [PJHS] in west Normal. Edder died Saturday, PJHS said in a statement to families.
"Edder was a kind and energetic seventh-grader, and his loss will be felt by many in our school community," school officials wrote. "We are grateful for the way our Parkside families come together during difficult times. Thank you for keeping the student’s family, our staff, and classmates in your thoughts. Our Parkside family will continue to care for and support one another, and we will find a way to honor our friend and classmate."
School counselors and therapy dogs will be available to help students who may need it.
Edder was injured in the fire in the early morning hours of Nov. 2 in the Northmeadow Village mobile home community in Normal. During a search Normal firefighters located Edder, who was unresponsive in a burning bedroom. Paramedics restored a pulse and spontaneous breathing on the way to the hospital.
The Normal Fire Department said the "seamless coordination and quick actions of every firefighter on scene were instrumental in giving this child a chance at survival."
Edder was active in PJHS athletics, where he just completed his cross country running season. The cross country team will host a Redder for Edder 3 Mile Run at 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at Maxwell Park. Signups are now open, and donations are accepted. Participants are asked to wear red to for Edder.
A GoFundMe is also raising money for Edder's family. As of Saturday it's already raised over $25,000.
