Texas Teen Dies of Sudden Heart Attack Days Before 16th Birthday

Just days before turning sixteen, Kaitlynn Saunders, a high school student from Mount Belvieu, Texas, died unexpectedly from a heart attack, leaving her family heartbroken.

Her mother, Nancy, called 911 after Kaitlynn collapsed at home on Thursday. “All they said was that it happens within teenagers, not as often. One in a million. One in a thousand, it could happen, and that day it was just going to happen to her,” Nancy told WTSP. There were no known health issues or warning signs.

Kaitlynn’s father, Nicholas, got the devastating call while at work. “I was freaking out, didn’t think it was real,” he said. “Should have taken me instead of her… Hardest thing in my life. Not from a heart attack at 15 years old.”

A Beloved Daughter and Sister

Her family remembers Kaitlynn as kind, smart, and full of life. “She was amazing,” said her mother. Her brother, Blake, said she was a “very great sister” and that he would miss her voice most.

Nancy added, “Hold your kids tight, always tell them you love them. Life takes them away for no reason.”

A Promising Student

Kaitlynn was a member of the National Honor Society and had been initiated just a week before her passing. A GoFundMe page described her as “athletic, funny, smart, and incredibly kind.” She loved flowers, dancing, Takis, and spending time with her family.

Rare but Rising Risk

Though rare, heart attacks in teens are possible. The Cardio Metabolic Institute reports an increase in heart attacks among people under 40, with one in five victims now in that age group.