Funeral held for boy with rare brain infection


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LABELLE, Fla. (AP) - Nearly 1,000 people gathered for the funeral of a Florida boy who was infected by a rare and deadly brain eating amoeba.

The public visitation and service was held Saturday for 12-year-old Zachary Reyna at the LaBelle Middle School Gym. The burial service was held at the nearby cemetery.

The family announced the funeral services on a Facebook posting.

Hundreds of family members, friends and even strangers attended the services. A slide show at the service displayed pictures of Reyna, some in his baseball uniform.

Reyna became infected Aug. 3 while knee boarding with friends. Doctors told the family the boy had extensive brain damage.

The family decided earlier to donate his organs for others who were "waiting on a miracle."

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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MICHAEL J. MISHAK

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