Sixth Grader Dies Within Days of Exposure to Covid-19

DAYTON, TX – The coronavirus continues to impact the lives of Texans in horrible ways including claiming the lives of young children.

Ryland Daic was only 12-years-old when he died days after experiencing COVID-19 symptoms.

According to his mother, Casey Castorina, Ryland was visiting his grandfather when she learned he was sick on August 5th. Additional family members tested positive for COVID-19 a few days before.

"They sounded congested like when you have a head cold," said Castorina. "I talked to him multiple times a day. He was still going out fishing and building his model cars and making Tik Tok videos."

After a few days, Ryland began to worsen. According to his mother, she would ask him questions, but would only "get a thumbs up or a thumbs down." She explained he was unable to talk.

He told his mom "heart wasn’t able to beat."

It was then Castorina drove Ryland to the ER in Crosby where a nurse advised she should take her son to the medical center because he needed an emergency room and they were unable to admit him. The nurse advised all they could do was fly him out of the state.

Ryland was eventually airlifted to Children's Memorial Herman. The 12-year-old died before his mother arrived at the hospital.

According to Castorina, Ryland was born with asthma but had not had any issues for more than 10 years. Doctors confirmed Ryland tested positive for the coronavirus at the hospital where he passed.

The official cause of death remains pending, but Castorina is convinced the virus killed her son.

Ryland was supposed to start the 6th grade just days after he passed.