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Extremely rare disorder killed football player

The 12-year-old Hillsborough boy, who collapsed at practice, carried genes for two blood disorders, autopsy results show.

By KEVIN GRAHAM
Published August 22, 2006

TAMPA — When Bobby Stephens Jr. died after youth football practice, many wondered if the mid-July heat contributed to his death. But a Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s report revealed this week that the 12-year-old died from an extremely rare, genetic blood disorder that included complications from sickle cell trait.

Dr. Leszek Chrostowski, the attending physician who supervised Bobby’s autopsy, said the boy carried genes for Hemoglobin S, commonly known as sickle cell trait and prevalent in people of African descent, and Hemoglobin E, a benign blood trait typically found in Southeast Asia. Before Bobby, there were only 27 documented cases in the world of individuals who died as a result of carrying both abnormal traits, Chrostowski said.

Bobby’s mother is from Thailand and his father is African American, which explained why he carried both genetic traits, doctors said.

“It’s one answer, but it’s given us a lot more questions,” said the boy’s father, Bobby Stephens Sr. “Right now, I’m trying to do some research on it since it is so rare.”

He said the autopsy report has caused him to educate his family about the disease and get tested to see if he or other relatives carry the sickle cell trait.

A member of the Progress Village Panthers varsity team, Bobby complained to coaches that he wasn't feeling well after doing sprints during the first day of practice on July 17. He died on his way to the hospital.

[Last modified August 27, 2006, 11:59:02]