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BOSTON (AP) — A 5-year-old boy whose reaction to learning he'd be receiving a new heart captivated people on social media earlier this year died Friday evening in Massachusetts, his family said.
Ari Schultz, a Red Sox fan, died while listening to the Boston baseball team, his family said on Facebook . The post didn't reveal the cause of death.
Schultz was born with a heart syndrome that was discovered when his mother was pregnant with him. He had about 20 surgeries and waited more than 200 days to receive a heart transplant at Boston Children's Hospital in March.
Schultz's parents had posted a YouTube video of them telling him he is getting a new heart. The video has received more than 450,000 views.
According to a post on the family's blog , Ari arrived home from the hospital in mid-June. During his time at home, he received a special visit from Red Sox players Christian Vazquez and Xander Bogaerts. A video shows both players hug Ari and give him a Red Sox jersey and a glove. The players are shown inviting Ari to throw out the first pitch at a Red Sox game Aug. 27 at Fenway Park.
Bogaerts told The Boston Globe he has never been around "such an uplifting little kid."
"That news, it's just so sad," Bogaerts said. "He has a special family."
Ari's father said in the post that Ari had a seizure early Thursday and was taken back to the hospital. He was later placed on life support in the cardiac intensive care unit.
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