Colorado parents left reeling after young son dies from rare disease on family vacation

By LAUREN ACTON-TAYLOR, US NEWS REPORTER Published: 03:44, 14 July 2026 | Updated: 03:44, 14 July 2026 A family in Colorado were left grieving after a young boy died from a rare disease just five days after falling ill on a family vacation.  Justin Peden, 5, died in hospital just days after he was diagnosed with Clarkson's disease after suffering from abdominal pain.  'It's still hard for us to believe it was only five days,' Terese Peden, Justin's mother, told KVUE.  Terese and Justin's father, Viet Vu, were travelling across the Pacific Northwest on vacation when the five-year-old began complaining of stomach pain on July 3.  'He just said he had a stomach ache, and we just figured it was something normal,' his mother continued.  After a night of vomiting, the boys parents rushed him to the emergency room where doctor's were overwhelmed with possible causes for the child's condition.  On July 5, doctor's brought Justin's parents heartbreaking news as their son continued to worsen.  'They told us he had to be put on life support and that he had a 50-50 chance,' Peden told the outlet.  Justin Peden, 5, died in hospital just days after suffering from abdominal pain and being diagnosed with Clarkson's disease Terese Peden, Justin's mother, and Justin's father, Viet Vu, were travelling across the Pacific Northwest on vacation when the five-year-old began complaining of stomach pain on July 3 On July 5, doctor's brought Justin's parents heartbreaking news as their son continued to worsen and he was diagnosed with Clarkson's disease More testing ensued before a physician from Randall Children's Hospital got in touch with suspicions of Clarkson's disease, also known as systemic capillary leak syndrome.  The rare condition only has seen around 500 reported cases worldwide since the 1960s, causing fluids and proteins to leak from blood vessels into surrounding tissue.  Clarkson's disease can lead to dangerously low blood pressure, severe swelling and potentially life-threatening organ failure, the outlet reported.  The diagnosis, however, arrived too late for young Justin.  'We were informed that his body was dying, and those medications were not going to be enough,' Peden continued.  The heartbroken parents were then faced with the harrowing decision of saying goodbye to their son.  Vu wrote on social media that his son 'fought as hard as he could until July 8th.' 'By that time his organs were failing him. The doctors told us chances for recovery and survival were slim. And at this point my boy wasn’t even recognizable,' the heartbroken father wrote. Clarkson's disease can lead to dangerously low blood pressure, severe swelling and potentially life-threatening organ failure The rare condition only has seen around 500 reported cases worldwide since the 1960s, causing fluids and proteins to leak from blood vessels into surrounding tissue 'His face and his body were soooo swollen from the fluids they were putting in to keep him alive. To save him from a catastrophic event, the doctors advised us to decide how to let him go peacefully.' Vu said they asked Justin's medical team to bring the young boy out to the hospital gardens as 'he loved to be outside' while they read bedtime stories and played his bedtime music. 'After the stories we played his favorite bedtime playlist and big sister, mom, and I laid our heads on his bed and held his hands one last time before they turned off his life support machine,' he wrote.  'This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do or ever had to go through. What makes it harder is that we don’t have any solid answers as to why any of this happened. He was a happy and healthy little boy with no medical issues.  'So I just want to find anything and anyone to blame even though I know it was no one’s fault. I still have soooo many regrets because I took my son for granted because I thought I had so much more time with him.' 'Nobody at Randall's had ever seen anything like it, so we need to get that information out there so that he can save some lives,' the grieving mother told the outlet.  'I would be honored to be his mom again in another lifetime, and that I'm really grateful to get to be his mom.'  On a GoFundMe created to help lay Justin to rest and raise funds for research into Clarkson's disease, the five-year-old was described as a 'sweet and loving little boy who brought joy to everyone around him.' The five-year-old was described as a 'sweet and loving little boy who brought joy to everyone around him' 'He had a contagious smile, and filled every room with his laughter and endless energy,' the fundraiser said.  'Justin’s illness progressed with heartbreaking speed, and within just a matter of days, his family went from searching for answers to saying goodbye to their precious little boy.' Over the course of his final days, Justin's parents never left his side and 'held onto hope' praying for a miracle, the page added.  'Despite every effort, Justin’s family faced the unimaginable heartbreak of losing their precious son — a loss no parent should ever have to endure,' the fundraiser continued. 'Some of his happiest moments were spent playing with his siblings and cousins, creating memories that his family will cherish forever.  'He was deeply loved by his family and friends, and his absence leaves a lasting void in the hearts of all who knew him.' Emily Peden described Justin as a 'friendly, smart and handsome boy' who had recently graduated preschool.  'He loved spending time with his family, hamming it up in photos and being extra goofy with us. He was the coolest, most clever and funny guy,' she wrote.  'He enjoyed Pokémon and Mario. He loved animals especially sharks, dinosaurs and birds/ducks. He was so loving and cared about his family very much. 'Justin was a sweet and special boy. too sweet for this earth and so special that no one had ever seen anyone like him before.'