A Delaware community has rallied to support a young family who lost their 2-year-old son Benny suddenly.
The Blue Mall’s Delco neighborhood will be lit up with blue lights for several days in honor of the Petlansky family, with homes and businesses going “Blue for Benny.” Lincoln Financial Field will also be covered in blue cloth later this week in honor of the boy. FOX 29 Philadelphia reported.
“We don’t want any of this to happen,” the boy’s father, Eric Petlansky, told FOX 29’s Chris O’Connell. “I don’t need any of that. I just want my buddy back.”
Last Wednesday, tragedy struck the Petlansky family when their young son developed a fever. By the next morning, Benny had stopped breathing.
Delaware Governor John Carney postpones State of the State address due to illness
Benny Petlansky, 2, passed away suddenly at his parents’ home last week. Doctors are still investigating his cause of death. (FOX29)
“I didn’t even touch the coffee,” Eric told FOX 29. “I heard her scream my name at 7:15 in the morning and I knew right away something was wrong.”
The distraught parents called paramedics, but nothing could be done. Benny died Thursday at her home.
Benny’s parents, Eric and Natalie Petlansky, spoke to FOX 29 Philadelphia about the sudden and devastating loss of their family. (FOX29)
The official cause of death remains unknown. According to FOX 29, doctors suspect Benny contracted some kind of virus, but it will be several weeks before the Petlansky family gets answers.
“There was no sign that anything was wrong with this beautiful child. She had been dancing in the shower with her father just the night before,” the father said.
Child’s seizure caught on video may provide clues to unexplained crib death
The Delco District community of Blue Mall, Delaware, is lighting up its home in blue in memory of Benny Petlansky, who passed away suddenly at the age of two. (Fox 29)
Benny leaves behind his mother, father, and eldest son, Ali, 5 years old.
“I have to be strong for Ali because he keeps saying, ‘Mommy, please wipe your tears. It’s going to be okay,'” his mother, Natalie Petlansky, told FOX 29. for him. “
A house in Blue Mall, Delaware is lit up with “Blue for Benny.” (FOX29)
Family, friends, neighbors and businesses have since come together to support the Petlansky family following their tragic loss.
FOX 29 reports that the community turned on the blue lights for “Blue for Benny,” and a Meal Train page was set up by Eric’s real estate colleagues.
Baby dies, another brain damaged by infectious bacteria, causing baby formula recall: report
A collage made of photos of 2-year-old Benny Petlansky, who passed away suddenly last week. (FOX29)
As of this article’s publication, the donation page has raised more than $120,000 for the family.
Nicole Gallo, a family friend, told FOX 29 the message she hopes the community takes from the Petlansky family is: “You are not alone.”
“You are not alone. We all feel your grief. We just want to honor this baby,” Gallo said.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Benny’s funeral will be held on Wednesday. On Monday, Eric and Natalie got matching tattoos in honor of their son.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen next week, I don’t know what’s going to happen next month, next year, 10 years, 20 years, but it’s never going to go away,” Natalie told FOX 29.
