Jeremy Carter, the grandson of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, died unexpectedly on December 20, 2015, at the age of 28. He suffered a heart attack in front of his mother, who tried to revive him with CPR until the paramedics arrived. He was taken to a hospital near his home in Peachtree City, Georgia, where he was pronounced dead. His death shocked and saddened his family and the nation, as he was remembered as a “wonderful young man” and a “very special child” by his grandfather.
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What Happened to Jeremy Carter?
According to his brother Josh, who wrote an emotional blog post about his death, Jeremy was not feeling well on Saturday evening and decided to take a nap at his family’s home. His mother, Annette, went to check on him and found him unresponsive. She performed CPR on him until the paramedics came and took him to the emergency room.
At the hospital, Jeremy was in critical condition. He had a low body temperature, organ failure, internal bleeding, and jaundice. He had suffered a heart attack at home, but the exact cause of his cardiac arrest was unknown. The state medical examiner’s office assisted in the investigation, but no autopsy was conducted on his body.
Did Jeremy Carter Have Any Heart Problems?
Jeremy Carter did not have any known heart issues, according to his brother Josh. He had undergone “a whole battery of tests” just a couple of months before his death, because he had trouble eating and his legs ached. He had seen nearly every doctor at Emory University Hospital, but they only prescribed him vitamin A and vitamin D supplements. Josh wondered if they had missed something that could have prevented his death.
Heart attacks are rare among young adults, but they can happen due to various factors such as genetics, lifestyle, or underlying conditions. Some of the common risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity. Some of the symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, sweating, dizziness or fainting, and irregular heartbeat.
How Did Jimmy Carter React to His Grandson’s Death?
Jimmy Carter announced his grandson’s death during a Sunday school class at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia. He had taught the class earlier that morning and had planned to teach another one later that day. He told the congregation that Jeremy was a “very special child” who had been planning to transfer to a college closer to his family.
Jimmy Carter also urged the church members to “be filled with a sense of joy and thanksgiving” despite his family tragedy. He said that he should be grateful to God for giving him life and freedom. Jimmy Carter had recently announced that he was cancer-free after undergoing treatment for melanoma that had spread to his brain and liver.
How Was Jeremy Carter Remembered by His Family and Friends?
Jeremy Carter was the middle child of Jeff and Annette Carter, and the cousin of Jason Carter, a former state senator who ran for Georgia governor in 2014. He was described by his family and friends as a “fun-loving guy” who visited his grandfather’s church whenever he could. He also enjoyed watching TV shows like Breaking Bad with his father and surfing in the ocean with his friends.
Jeremy Carter’s funeral was held on December 23, 2015, at First Baptist Church in Peachtree City. His grandfather Jimmy Carter delivered a eulogy for him, saying that he was proud of him and loved him very much. He also said that Jeremy had accepted Jesus Christ as his savior and was now in heaven. He asked the mourners to pray for Jeremy’s parents, siblings, and other relatives who were grieving for him.
