(WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- There are questions whether a northwest suburban teenager died of COVID-19 last week.
School District 214 Superintendent David Schuler announced Saturday the death of 16-year-old Zach Leviton, a sophmore at Wheeling High School. He died last week “likely due to complications related to COVID-19,” Schuler wrote in an update to families. But his loved ones told CBS 2 he tested negative for COVID-19.
Still, Leviton's mother said she was told her son might have been in the early stages of COVID-19.
She said Zach starting feeling ill last month. She said his symptoms were mild and there was no apparent sign of COVID-19. But then days later, his condition got worse. Zach had limp limbs and mild shortness of breath, and was rushed to the hospital last week to get a COVID-19 test.
His mother said the test came back negative, and the teen died after being on a ventilator.
Zach's doctor told her there was no conclusive cause of death, but that Zach had heart complications and that he might have been suffering from the early stages of the virus.
She said she is now concerned about testing, and how the virus appears in young people.
Meanwhile, District 214 said in a letter to parents that at least one other student is in the intensive care unit due to the virus.
“While we may be seeing a plateau in confirmed cases and deaths related to COVID-19 in Illinois, this is a dark week in District 214 that leaves me with an incredibly heavy heart. During this dark and painful week in D214, I would implore you to please follow the Governor’s stay-at-home order, wash your hands and practice social distancing,” the statement reads.
“We will continue to move forward to see the sunrise again one day; however, this week in our District is marked by pain and sadness. My family’s thoughts and prayers are with these families and all members of our District’s school community during this global pandemic.”
District 214 is based in northwest suburban Arlington Heights and covers several schools including Buffalo Grove High School, John Hersey High School, Elk Grove High School and Rolling Meadows High School.
The family of Zach Leviton are waiting on his autopsy results.