Twelve-year-old Tomas Remeikis, a vibrant and active teenager from Southport, North Carolina, tragically passed away just hours after telling his parents he was going to rest in bed. Tomas had been suffering from a cold and fever, but no one expected how quickly his condition would worsen.
Born in Manchester and diagnosed in early childhood with pulmonary hypertension—a serious heart condition caused by a hole in his heart—Tomas had defied the odds for years. Pulmonary hypertension causes high blood pressure in the lungs’ blood vessels, putting strain on the heart’s right side. Yet despite this, Tomas lived an energetic life. He biked to school every day and trained in taekwondo twice a week.
His father, Andrius Remeikis, shared with the Liverpool Echo how Tomas was not just his son, but a beacon of kindness and friendship. “He was very kind and friendly. Tomas quickly made friends wherever he went—at school, in taekwondo, and beyond. Everyone adored him.”
As a toddler, Tomas often struggled with shortness of breath and fatigue, symptoms that initially were mistaken for common chest infections. It wasn’t until his grandfather noticed Tomas struggling to catch his breath while skateboarding that doctors finally found the hole in his heart. He underwent urgent surgery, followed by daily medication and regular check-ups at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.
Despite occasional fainting spells linked to his intense training, Tomas’s health was stable. His parents asked often how he was feeling, and he always reassured them he was fine.
However, just a week before his sudden passing, Tomas developed a cough and fever. He seemed to recover, returning to school and enjoying bike rides with his family. But on a bank holiday, his illness returned.
“I asked him how his lungs and heart were,” Andrius recalled. “He said he was going to rest in bed for a while. Later, he got up, I made him tea, and he said he felt a little better.”
Then, without warning, Tomas’s condition deteriorated rapidly. His mother noticed his lips turning purple, and he called out desperately for help. An ambulance was called, but despite their swift response, Tomas lost consciousness and passed away at the hospital.
The family remains devastated by the loss of their beloved son and brother. The exact cause of death is still under investigation, though initial findings suggest heart failure.
Earlier this year, Tomas had undergone thorough tests that showed promising progress, making his sudden death all the more heartbreaking.
His funeral brought together friends from school, taekwondo, and even online gaming, reflecting the broad circle of those who loved him. Andrius was touched by the support, including a friend who flew in from Ireland to say goodbye.
The family has asked that donations be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, which supported Tomas throughout his life. They have also donated his heart for medical research, hoping to help others with the condition.
“Tomas was kind, caring, and outgoing. He touched the hearts of everyone he met,” said Andrius. “He will be deeply missed but never forgotten.”
