Mom Speaks Out After Her Son, 2, Died from ‘Fatal Medical Episode’ at Preschool: ‘Still in Disbelief’ (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Rebekah Sheridan and her son Jude Gerrard before his death on Jan. 14.Photo:Courtesy of Rebekah Sheridan

Courtesy of Rebekah Sheridan

The mom of a 2-year-old boy whodied at a preschoolin England following a medical episode is paying tribute to her “amazing” son.

Police saidJude Gerrardexperienced a “fatal medical episode” at the Early Learners Day Nursery in the Liverpool suburb of Bootle on Tuesday, Jan. 14. Jude was transported to a local hospital after the incident, where he was later pronounced dead.

Jude’s death was “currently being treated as unexplained and inquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances of the incident,” according to police.

Jude Gerrard, the 2-year-old boy who died after experiencing a medical episode at his preschool.Courtesy of Rebekah Sheridan

“I try to find comfort in the fact that all he ever knew was love and laughter and fun, he just deserved so much more,” she says.

Rebekah says her son, nicknamed “Judie,” was “an amazing little boy” who was both “clever and kind.” He was “surprisingly” good at golf for his age, “loved playing football” and “was absolutely obsessed with WWE.”

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Jude also loved Spider-Man (“He’d pretend to web everyone and everything,” Rebekah says) and the band Dire Straits, particularly the songs  “Money for Nothing” or “Sultans of Swing,” which he would always “rock out” to whenever they came on.

“We just had so much fun every day together, he was the best thing that ever happened to me and I’d never known a love like it before,” she tells PEOPLE. “I’m afraid I never will again.”

Jude Gerrard, the 2-year-old boy who died after a medical episode at preschool on Jan. 14.Courtesy of Rebekah Sheridan

She says, ”I feel like words just could never do him justice but I want people to remember him and not what happened to him.”

As of Monday, Jan. 27, more than $34,000 has been raised through aGoFundMe campaignstarted to support Jude’s family.

Jude Gerrard, left, and his parents, right, before the toddler’s sudden death on Jan. 14.Courtesy of Rebekah Sheridan

“We really appreciate everyone’s kind words of love and support so much and just how amazing people are,” she tells PEOPLE. “We truly cannot thank everybody enough.”

“The amount of times people have told me that he’d always make them smile or he’d make their day just seeing him,” Rebekah says. “He touched so many people in his short little life and we are just indescribably devastated [that] our time with him has been cut so short.”

She adds, ”I feel like words just could never do him justice but I want people to remember him and not what happened to him.”

source: people.com