A Colorado family is sharing the story of their 5-year-old son’s sudden death during a Pacific Northwest vacation, hoping greater awareness of the rare disease that claimed his life could help save others.

“It’s still hard for us to believe it was only five days,” said Terese Peden.

Parents Terese Peden and Viet Vu said their son, Justin, went from being a healthy, energetic child to dying in the hospital in less than a week.

The family traveled to the Pacific Northwest for a vacation, spending four days visiting destinations including Cannon Beach on the Oregon coast and the Oregon Zoo. But everything changed on the night of July 3, when Justin complained of abdominal pain.

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