Wes Johnson, a 17-year-old boy from St. Thomas, Ontario, who fulfilled his dying wish of meeting the Toronto Blue Jays during spring training in Florida, has passed away. He died Friday morning after battling congenital heart disease and other health complications.
A Dream Come True
In March, Johnson traveled to Dunedin, Florida, with his family for a trip of a lifetime. He met several Blue Jays players, including George Springer, Daulton Varsho, Addison Barger, Trey Yesavage, and Davis Schneider. His mother, Jennah Johnson, said that meeting the team was "the best day of his life."
The trip was made possible through a GoFundMe campaign that raised nearly $48,000. Sportsnet broadcaster Jamie Campbell helped promote the fundraiser, which aimed to fulfill one of Johnson's final wishes.
Health Struggles
Johnson was born with congenital heart disease and spent three years on a waiting list for a heart transplant in Toronto. However, a condition called protein-losing enteropathy and failing kidneys ended the possibility of a transplant. Doctors determined there was nothing more they could do and sent him home in December for palliative care.
His mother expressed gratitude for the medical team's efforts but noted the shortage of organ donors. "The team did all it could, but unfortunately, there's not a store where you can go buy a heart. You need donors," she said. "We don't have enough donors for the organs that we require. And there just wasn't one of the right size or blood type that came in at the right time for him."
Final Days
After the trip, Johnson's health declined rapidly. The family cut the vacation short by a day due to a lack of appropriate medication. Despite this, his mother described the experience as a "trip of a lifetime." Johnson cried happy tears on the field during his visit.
In addition to his love for baseball, Johnson volunteered at Sick Kids hospital with the Patient Advisory Counsel and graduated high school a semester early with honors. He also used social media to raise money for nonprofits close to his heart.
Jamie Campbell shared the news of Johnson's passing on social media, thanking those who contributed to the fundraiser. "Many of you contributed financially to get Wes Johnson to Florida in March. I'm forever grateful to all who helped. Wes passed away this morning in St. Thomas, Ontario," Campbell wrote.
Johnson is survived by his parents, Jennah and Johnny Johnson, and his brothers, Maverick-Liam and Oakley.
