Jaclyn Riana Diaz, 8, an Infant 2 student at the St. Martin De Porres RC School of Partridge Street, died of a brain tumor about 1:30 yesterday morning at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital after a surgical procedure was carried out in an effort to alleviate her condition.

According to a neighbour of Diaz’s family, on Saturday morning the girl was playing with two friends at her house on Lakeview Street when about midday, while she was eating, she began to complain about headaches and collapsed in a chair.

The neighbour, who tried to assist the family, said that Jaclyn was taken to the Cleopatra White Polyclinic, but by this time she had begun to foam at the mouth. A BERT ambulance was called, and it took her to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, where an X-ray revealed that there were problems with blood vessels in her brain, which had ballooned.

Surgery was conducted to alleviate the situation, but after the procedure Jaclyn slipped into a coma and died yesterday morning. The neighbor said that Jaclyn had not complained of headaches previously, until Thursday. After taking medication, she would go back to play with her friends. On Saturday, she was visibly weak and although she was fighting the headaches, they were terrible, and she collapsed.

She was described as being a mannerly girl who loved to sing and play, and had many friends.

Principal Sharon Marin Holland of the St. Martin De Porres RC School said that the school counselor has conducted grief counseling with the students and they are doing what they can to help the students cope with the loss of their friend and classmate. The school will also work with and support the parents. Funeral arrangements have been made for Saturday.

Jaclyn will lie in state at the St. Martin De Porres Church at 1:00 Saturday evening, and the funeral service will begin at 2:00 p.m.

The school is also mourning Jaclyn’s death, and black bows have been placed on its buildings and on the fence.