Ari Schultz, 5-year-old Red Sox fan and heart-transplant recipient, dies
Ari Schultz, the 5-year-old Red Sox fan and heart-transplant recipient who celebrated leaving Boston Children’s last month with a “Xander Bogaerts” two-run homer, died Friday evening, his family announced on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/dangerschultz/photos/a.333023773447547.77058.333019276781330/1416607445089169/?type=3
Ari had been at the hospital for 187 straight days when he learned he’d be going home in just a couple more. The video of him learning that news went viral, as did one of him from March, in which he found out he’d be getting the transplant after a 211-day wait.
Just Thursday, Ari’s family posted a video of him meeting his idol Bogaerts and Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez, along with an update on his first fun-packed month home in Stow. In the video, Ari learns that he’s been invited to throw out the first pitch at Fenway Park before the August 27 Red Sox game.
In subsequent updates later Thursday, Ari’s family said he suffered a seizure and was taken to the hospital. He later coded and was placed on life support in a cardiac intensive care unit, his family wrote.
“Ari passed away peacefully this evening listening to the Red Sox,” his family posted Friday night.
A few hours later, the team tweeted, “We’ll miss you, Ari.”
Some fans make an instant impact on our team. Ari Schultz, with his optimism & unbridled excitement, is at the top. We’ll miss you, Ari. pic.twitter.com/MIQrbE7ZZ7
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 22, 2017
According to the family’s website, “Echo of Hope,” Ari was “diagnosed at his 18 week ultrasound with critical aortic stenosis and evolving hypoplastic left heart syndrome.” He had undergone a number of procedures before the transplant.
