Nationwide — Precious Lewis, a 7-year-old African American girl from Evansville, Indiana, died after collapsing at an after-school care program. Her family said they are still searching for answers about what caused her sudden death.
Precious was attending a program at Potter’s Wheel, a local nonprofit that offers activities for children, when she suddenly collapsed. Staff members tried to revive her and immediately called 911, but she did not survive.
“She never came back home,” said her mother, Angel Lewis, in an interview with WLBT.
The family said a coroner told them Precious might have had an enlarged heart, but they will have to wait several weeks for the final autopsy results.
Loved ones are struggling to raise money for her funeral while grieving her loss. “We haven’t had a chance to honor her yet. Because I don’t know how to right now,” said her aunt, Barbara Franklin. “I’m trying to get money together to bury her, and it’s hard.”
Angel remembered her daughter as full of energy and creativity. “She was very smart,” Angel said. “She was outgoing, she loved to skate, she loved to draw; her favorite colors were pink and purple. She loved to dance, and she was always making TikTok videos.”
Franklin said Precious always brought joy to those around her. “Precious was as precious as her name,” she said. “I’m going to miss her. I just don’t know what I’m going to do without the days I pass by there, and she would run out to my car. It hurts.”
In a statement, Potter’s Wheel said the team is heartbroken over her death. “She was a bright, beautiful girl, full of life and potential,” the organization shared. A donation site has been set up to help the family with funeral expenses, with all funds going directly to them.