The sudden death of 13-year-old YouTube star Caleb Logan Bratayley in early October raised many questions among fans worldwide. Now the family is speaking out on the exact cause of death of their beloved son.
“The doctor confirmed today that Caleb passed away from a heart condition called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy that went undetected in his yearly checkups,” the family shared in an Instagram post Tuesday. “Caleb didn’t have any symptoms, so the doctor said there was nothing we could have done differently.”
Last month, Caleb’s parents told ABC News that the family has a history of the disease that causes the heart muscle to become abnormally thick and makes it harder for the heart to pump blood, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Many people with the disease, which often goes undiagnosed, have few, if any, symptoms and can lead normal lives with no significant problems.
The family also revealed that doctors had confirmed neither of Caleb’s two sisters Annie, 10, and Hayley, 7, showed signs of having the disease.
“The girls’ hearts were just recently checked and thankfully look the way they should right now,” the statement continued.
The 13-year-old boy died suddenly on Oct. 1 at the family’s Maryland home.
“The sadness of losing someone you love is unimaginable,” the post concluded. “Thank you to everyone who has reached out, your kindness and support continues to help our family. We miss our baked potato every day.”
Caleb’s mother, Katie, originally said that her son died of natural causes. Days later, his parents revealed that he likely suffered from an undetected medical condition.
On Oct. 9, the family broadcast Caleb’s memorial service via livestream on Facebook and Periscope. Family members and close friends shared memories of Caleb during the service, which was viewed more than 116,000 times within an hour of posting.
“Caleb knew how to light up a room, he was like a little brother to me, he loved life and he enjoyed every little bit even if it was things he didn’t necessarily feel like doing he was a trooper,” a cousin named Paige recalled.
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