Northwestern University freshman Simone Scott was pursuing a double major in broadcast journalism and political science/pre-law. | Facebook/Mason City Schools
Northwestern University freshman Simone Scott was pursuing a double major in broadcast journalism and political science/pre-law. | Facebook/Mason City Schools
Northwestern University freshman Simone Scott, 19, died last week following a heart transplant she received in May after being stricken by a virus that was not COVID-19.
“Our entire Comet Family is grieving the loss of Mason High School Class of 2020’s Simone Scott,” Mason City Schools posted on its Facebook page on June 13. “This weekend we learned that Simone passed away following what was suspected as being a virus (not COVID) attack her heart a few weeks ago, which resulted in her receiving a heart transplant. Simone was a bright, determined and compassionate young woman whose impact on our Comet community was enormous.”
A native of Ohio, Scott seemed at home at Northwestern, quickly joining the Northwestern News Network as a reporter and anchor soon after her arrival. At her high school, she was a student leader in multiple respects, including serving as a class officer and member of the school’s broadcast program, according to the Dayton Daily News.
“Simone’s death is a devastating loss to her family, her friends and to many on campus whose lives she touched,” a Northwestern University’s email stated. “Bright, talented and ambitious, she made a deep impact during her time in Evanston.”
The official cause of Scott's death was from pneumonia-related issues. The Journal-News reports that she had received her second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on May 1 and had no reaction. Her mother told the newspaper that Scott experienced severe flu-like symptoms after her first vaccine on April 3.
Medscape reported last week that a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expert has reported that “swelling of the heart appears to be a very rare side effect that primarily strikes young people after vaccination for COVID-19, detailing data on cases of myocarditis and pericarditis detected through a government safety system.”
No such link has been made in Scott's case and her family continues to search for answers, saying that she appeared completely healthy during her last visit from school on Mother's Day.
According to WLWT, Scott’s parents are now awaiting results from several tests on her heart.
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