MASON, Ohio — Sable Gibson’s Western Row Elementary School classmates memorialized her Thursday with hand-written cards covered in hearts and smiley faces.
Gibson, 10, died Tuesday of cardiac arrest related to the double diagnosis of influenza and strep throat she received earlier that day. The school announced her death in a letter to parents Wednesday evening.
The Journal-News reported many of the students and staffers working on cards Thursday wore pink — her favorite color — while they did so. The school invited additional grief counselors on campus to help them process the loss, and the cards will eventually go to her family.
Warren County health officials said the girl’s death was unique this flu season and no other child- or adult-related deaths connected to the flu have been reported in the county. However, a 3-year-old child in Highland County became Ohio’s first pediatric flu death of the year in early February.
Following her death, Gibson’s family set up a GoFundMe campaign that had already out-raised its $15,000 goal by Thursday night.
The Journal-News is a news partner of WCPO.
