Kansas City Teen Who Fought Terminal Bone Cancer Dies Of COVID-19

KEY POINTS

Waite was diagnosed with bone cancer in Sept 2020
The teen struggled to breathe after contracting the virus
Doctors ruled out intubation as his lungs were damaged

A 17-year-old boy, who had been battling stage four bone cancer for over a year, died of COVID-19. He contracted the virus despite being vaccinated against it.

The funeral of Jordan Waite of Kansas City will be held Friday at the Highland Park Funeral home, reported KSHB.

According to Waite's grandmother Jucunda Lorenz, Waite was 16 when he was diagnosed with bone cancer in September 2020. "What we understood was if you keep doing the radiation and you keep doing the chemo, you know, it's gonna go away, you're gonna feel better, it's gonna get better, and it didn't," Lorenz told the news outlet.

"He had his good days, but he had more bad days than he did good. My son had stopped working so that they could take him to his appointments and make sure that, you know, his needs were taken care of," Lorenz added.

Waite's family friend Brittany Bartlett said the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Missouri and Kansas gave Waite a shopping spree while "Rides for Hope KC" organized a car show and parade for him.

"He got to get in the cars and all that, he got to ride in a limo with his brothers," Bartlett told KSHB.

Though Waite showed resilience and "stayed positive," he contracted COVID-19 this fall, despite being vaccinated against it. Lorenz said he had struggled with breathing and doctors ruled out intubation. "His lungs had filled up with the COVID. So that wasn't even an option," Lorenz added. He passed away last Saturday.

Lorenz said Waite's mother is totally shattered while his father is trying to be strong. The family has established a GoFundMe page to help with Waite's funeral and other costs.

Recently, another 82-year-old cancer survivor from Ohio had died of COVID-19. Barbara Bartolovich, a blood cancer survivor, contracted the virus from a friend, who reportedly hid the fact that they tested positive just so they could play cards at a social gathering. Barbara was fully vaccinated and had taken all necessary precautions to ensure she stayed safe during the pandemic, the grieving family said.

According to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, the state witnessed 54,166 new COVID cases over the last seven days. As many as 30 people died last week.