Nationwide — Gunnar Redding Bible, a 16-year-old African American teen from Loganville, Georgia, has sadly died after a rare illness and an extended stay in the hospital. Loganville High School confirmed the loss and remembered him as a student-athlete who played football for the school.
The school shared a statement this week asking the community to keep his family in their thoughts and prayers. It also honored his impact on campus and the time he spent as part of the team.
According to WSB-TV, Gunnar played for the Loganville High School football team and stayed active in sports throughout his life. Coaches and teammates described him as dedicated on the field and supportive off it.
Doctors admitted him to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta after diagnosing him with Guillain-Barré syndrome, pneumonia, and lupus. He spent weeks in the pediatric intensive care unit as his condition became more serious.
The illness caused paralysis, leaving him unable to move his limbs. He needed a respirator for breathing support and later developed kidney complications that required dialysis. Around three weeks into treatment, he stopped showing normal pupil response, but doctors later restored limited communication through blinking.
His mother, Teresa Redding, created a GoFundMe page to help cover medical costs and support the family during his hospitalization. The campaign noted that expenses passed $43,000, with insurance covering only part of the treatment. The fundraiser also said the family was prepared to move into a single-story home to help manage his care needs. It has so far raised over $7,000.
Community members across Loganville have continued sharing tributes as the family grieves the loss.