Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Little River Mourning

Yesterday I was at the high school. There's a lot of sad students-- and a grief stricken community right now.

From the Wichita Eagle:
Matthew Waters of Little River died Sunday night due to acute liver failure. Waters, 16, had undergone an emergency liver transplant in Kansas City on Friday night.

The transplant was succesful, however there was too much pressure on his brain.

The 16-year old sophomore was the starting quarterback and linebacker for the Redskins, an eight-man team.

"He was a very popular kid amongst his peers but was quiet around adults," Little River football coach Shane Cordell said. "He was very athletic, the type of kid that the younger kids looked up to and the older kids respected.

"He really was a fine young man."

On Sept. 21, Waters was taken to Promise Regional Medical Center in Hutchinson. However, due to the severity of the illness -- which was not football related -- he was then transferred to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita before being moved to Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City.

"There was a lot of anxiety Friday. We were waiting to hear how he was doing," Cordell, who last talked to Waters two weeks ago after the team had played its second game said. "Unfortunately, when we did get the news, it wasn't good. It hit real quick. His symptoms just kept getting worse."

The news hit the small community hard. Little River is a 1A school whose enrollment for the 2007-2008 school year is listed at 167.

"It's pretty quiet," said Cordell, who is also a guidance counselor. "We gathered the kids this morning to explain what happened and to allow them to ask any questions. All the counselors are here for them as well."

Funeral service arrangements have not been released.

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