Family plans funeral instead of sweet 16 after daughter dies from sudden heart attack

BAYTOWN, Texas (KHOU) – A Texas family is mourning the loss of their daughter after she died suddenly of a heart attack at 15 years old.

Kaitlynn Saunders’ 16th birthday would have been Tuesday. However, instead of a birthday party, her family is planning her funeral.

Kaitlynn’s mother, Nancy Saunders, said her daughter was wonderful.

“She … had a big heart,” she said. “She cared a lot for people.”

On Thursday, Kaitlynn’s big heart gave out.

“It was the first day of summer, and it was a regular morning,” Saunders said. “She was happy. She was up … excited about summer.”

Saunders and her son were at home when Kaitlynn collapsed on May 22.

They called 911 and paramedics rushed her to the hospital.

Kaitlynn’s father, Nicholas Saunders, got the call while he was at work.

“I was freaking out. I didn’t think it was real,” he said.

Doctors told the family Kaitlynn had suffered a heart attack.

The family said there were no warning signs and Kaitlynn did not have any conditions that could have led to a heart attack.

Her father said he still can’t make sense of it.

“They should have took me instead of her,” he said. “This is the hardest thing I ever had in my life … a heart attack at 15 years old.”

Kaitlynn’s little brother, Blake, wants the world to know how special his big sister was.

“She was a very great sister to me,” he said.

Photos of Kaitlynn now cover the family’s dining table, displaying memories of birthdays and other milestones, along with her most important day.

“This is the day that her dad adopted her, my current husband,” Nancy Saunders said. “She always wanted him to adopt her.”

The girl they called their princess is gone, but her smile, laugh and love will live in the hearts of her family.