The Carson City Fire Fighters Association paid the balance Wednesday for the funeral of a Carson City 4-year-old who died suddenly last week.
"We're fathers. I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like to lose one of your kids," said Carson City Fire Capt. John Arneson, an association executive board member. "When I made some phone calls around to our general membership this morning about donating, I didn't get one person who hesitated.
"We want to do whatever we can to help out and make sure Jacob has a proper
burial."
Arneson wrote a check to Walton's Funeral Home for $800. The family received another $500 in donations to cover the cost of the burial plot and other items. Walton's donated the remainder of the arrangements.
A viewing will be Friday.
Jacob Allen Kenton died Jan. 29 after losing consciousness at his home.
Arneson said the firefighters who responded to the call from Jacob's grandmother Jan. 28 were still reeling from the realization they couldn't save him.
Though Jacob had been fighting a cough and slight fever, nothing indicated his life was in danger, said his mother, Amy Cote.
An autopsy did not determine a cause of death. Cote, 25, hopes toxicology tests will be able to tell her why her little boy died.
Tuesday, she was uncertain how she would pay for the funeral of her only child. But after an article on her plight in Wednesday's Nevada Appeal, donations poured in.
"I just can't say thank you enough," Cote said of her benefactors. "It makes this time just a little bit more bearable knowing I don't have to worry about all that."
Jacob's story also touched members of the Carson City Deputies Association.
Deputy Dan Ochsen-schlager, who with Deputy Rick Encinas tried to revive Jacob before paramedics arrived, said the Deputies' Association will donate $500.
Ochsenschlager said the check will go directly to Cote, who does not anticipate being able to return to her job at the convenience store where a deputy contacted her on the day her son fell ill.
Cote also said she will likely move from the apartment she shared with her son.
She said she hasn't even begun to imagine medical costs.
Sgt. Darrin Sloan said that during the next meeting he intends to ask the Carson City Sheriff's Supervisors Association to match the Deputies' Association's donation.
"I have a 4-year-old and I don't know if I could survive that," he said. "It's just sad."