Donovan Jones

Karateka, wrestling fan Age: 13

Donovan Jones, 13, did karate, loved the TV sitcom “Black-ish,” adored watching WWE with his grandmother, and enjoyed recording TikTok videos with his mom, stepdad and 5-year-old sister, Luci.

On Nov. 11, 2021, the Buckeye eighth-grade student was at home sick with COVID-19 when he unexpectedly had a seizure and developed a brain bleed. He died the next day at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

Donovan had sickle cell disease, which made him more vulnerable to complications from COVID-19. His family had planned to get vaccinated but had not done so yet when they all were infected, said Donovan’s mother, Teresita Horne.

Horne was in a different hospital with COVID-19 when Donovan died.

“I had to watch my son die on my cellphone . ... To not be there when he probably wanted me and needed me the most is what I always have to deal with.”