On July 18, 2025, 12‑year‑old Jaysen Carr died from a rare brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, the deadly so‑called “brain‑eating amoeba,” after swimming in Lake Murray, South Carolina, over the Fourth of July weekend. 

Jaysen was a bright, kind-hearted student at Hand Middle School who loved sports, music, and making friends. He dazzled teachers by skipping a grade and was deeply cherished by his family—parents Clarence and Ebony Carr—who now face unimaginable loss. 

Clarence and Ebony Carr have learned with shock that South Carolina, like most U.S. states, has no law requiring notification of amoeba infections, no mandatory water testing, and no required warning signs at freshwater access points. The lake where their son swam remained open without any public alert—even as the organism was confirmed to be present. 

In their grief, the Carrs are calling on state leaders and public health officials to act — not just to honor Jaysen, but to protect others.

They respectfully demand that the state:

• Requires visible warning signs at all public freshwater access points during warm months.
• Implements mandatory reporting and water safety testing for Naegleria fowleri at high-risk lakes.
• Launches public education campaigns about how to reduce risk: use of nose clips, avoiding diving, and recognizing early symptoms.
• Ensures that these reforms are codified in law and named in honor of Jaysen Carr, so his name becomes a lasting symbol of prevention.

Let’s turn this unimaginable tragedy into meaningful prevention. Let’s ensure no other child dies swimming without warning. Let’s name these protections after Jaysen Carr, so he—and other families—are never forgotten.

Please sign in support of Clarence and Ebony Carr’s call to action.