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Teen’s final moments revealed after rare brain-eating amoeba infection claims his life at just 17
The family of a 17-year-old North Carolina boy who tragically died after contracting a rare brain-eating amoeba has spoken out about his heartbreaking final days, as they search for answers about the devastating illness.
Moises Ponce Mendoza died on August 31, just weeks after becoming infected with the amoeba.
His family is now struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss while seeking answers from medical experts about what happened.
The disease is so rare that fewer than 10 cases are reported each year
Speaking to Univision, Moises’ mother, Monica Mendoza, described the immense grief her family is experiencing and said they are desperate for doctors to provide answers. Experts say infections caused by the rare amoeba are extremely uncommon, with fewer than 10 cases reported annually.
She heartbreakingly pondered: "How am I going to live with this void?
"I come home, and he's not there."
Recounting the days before her son died, Monica said: "He started acting like crazy, screaming like crazy and grabbing his head. And I started crying, and I held him and said, 'My son, what's wrong with you?'"
Tragically, that was the last time she saw her son conscious as he went into a coma and passed away just days later.
Since his death, Moises’ family has been retracing his final days, trying to determine where he may have been exposed to the amoeba, particularly given how rare fatal infections are.
The teen's family is desperately trying to work out where he contracted the infection
But his devastated mother remains determined to uncover how her son contracted the illness. She hopes that finding answers will not only help her family understand what happened to Moises, but also raise awareness and help prevent others from enduring the same tragedy.
Monica pleaded with viewers: "Please, pay close attention and do your part to find where this came from so we can protect everyone else."
Moises’ grieving brother, Elmer Aguilar Mendoz, reminisced while reflecting on where he could have picked up the infection, saying: "We always went to many different places to swim. We always loved that. Lakes, pools, many places.”
He tearfully added: "I wish I could go back in time, hug him, and tell him just how much we loved him. My kids, my nephews loved him very much."