Teen Dies Suddenly While Video Chatting with Her Father in the Hospital

It was supposed to be a joyful Christmas morning. Sixteen-year-old Scarlett Durden of Piedmont, Alabama, had just finished opening presents with her family when her heart suddenly stopped.

The teen collapsed while on FaceTime with her father, Marvy Durden, who was in a hospital bed awaiting a heart transplant. “She was laughing, showing me what she got,” Marvy told local reporters. “Then, all of a sudden, she went quiet. I knew something was wrong.”

Moments later, Scarlett’s younger sister ran to get their mother, Janice “Renee” Durden. “She came to me saying, ‘Mom, Scarlett’s being weird,’” Renee recalled. “I ran in, and she was on the floor. She wasn’t breathing.”

Scarlett was pronounced dead shortly after. Her family said she had no known heart condition but revealed a troubling family history of cardiac problems.

“This family has endured one heartbreak after another,” said family friend Lisa Cummings, who launched a GoFundMe to help with medical and funeral costs. “Her dad’s waiting for a new heart, and now this. It’s unimaginable.”

Just months earlier, Renee had survived a serious car accident that left her with neck and back injuries. Now, she faces the unbearable task of burying her daughter. “We’re not supposed to bury our babies,” she said through tears. “It’s backwards.”

Scarlett, described as “goofy, loving, and full of light,” was a sophomore at Piedmont High School. Before transferring, she attended Central High School in Carrollton, Georgia, where she was part of the JROTC program and dreamed of joining the military.

“Scarlett was just beginning to build a bright future for herself,” her obituary read. “She made people feel seen and loved. Her presence was radiant, her spirit unforgettable.”

Her father, who named her “Scarlett Skye” because “a scarlet sky is one of the most beautiful sights you can ever see,” said she truly lived up to her name.

The teen’s heart is being examined post-mortem to determine the exact cause of death.

Scarlett is survived by her parents, two sisters, grandparents, and extended family. Her funeral is scheduled for Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Miller Funeral Home Dogwood Chapel in Oxford, Alabama. The service will be livestreamed for those who cannot attend.

“Scarlett’s light will never go out,” her mother said. “She’ll live on in every scarlet sky we see.”