Freshman Swimmer At Geneva High School Dies After Stroke

GENEVA, IL — A freshman swimmer at Geneva High School died Sunday after suffering a stroke earlier in December, school officials said.

In an email to students Monday morning, Principal Tom Rogers said James Oliver died more than a week after he had a stroke following swim practice on Dec. 8. The student was in critical condition until his passing, according to the message obtained by Patch.

"As a school community, our thoughts are with his brother, Sean, a GHS junior, his family and friends, and our hearts are mourning this loss," Rogers wrote.

The principal continued by assuring students that the school staff "loves and cares about you and recognizes the feelings you may be experiencing." He encouraged students to meet with the available counselors, social workers or psychologists if they need to talk to someone.

The email contained additional information, including a document with tips for students coping with grief. Help is available through a crisis hotline — call or text 988 — or through Tri-City Family Services.

"It is important to remember that at times like this, we are one community, and my hope is that we will find strength in each other during this very difficult time," Rogers said in his email.

A GoFundMe campaign was launched last week with the goal of raising $50,000 to help Oliver and his family while the boy battled "day by day to recover from a brain hemorrhage and stroke that he suffered at high school swim practice." The fundraiser's organizer said Oliver was born with arteriovenous malformation, which happens when a cluster of blood vessels form incorrectly.

So far, the fundraiser has collected upwards of $23,000.