BEDFORD, Mass. — Family, friends and teammates who rallied around a 28-year-old standout local athlete who was in a coma for weeks said goodbye to him on Sunday.
David Ahern broke records playing hockey at Bedford High School, went on to earn All-American honors playing baseball at Babson College and signed a professional contract as a pitcher for the Independent League New York Federals.
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Ahern, a sales manager for a software company, had most recently been playing summer league baseball for the Lexington Blue Sox and was living in South Boston with his girlfriend, when he went into cardiac arrest on Aug. 18, and was found unresponsive at his apartment.
Ahern was resuscitated on the way to Tufts Medical Center, where he remained on life support for 2.5 weeks, never waking up before passing away on Sunday.
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"The doctors said the damage to his brain was irreversible, and he would never come back," said older brother, Joe Ahern, who rushed from California to be at his brother's bedside. "The Dave we know and love wouldn't ever come back."
Doctors aren't sure exactly what caused Ahern to go into cardiac arrest, Joe Ahern told FOX25. Family members believe a lung condition he was hospitalized with for a few weeks during college may have been a factor.
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As the Aherns grieve, they are taking comfort in the support of his friends and his teammates who paid tribute to him.
Before and after each game of their championship, the Blue Sox visited Ahern in his hospital room, talking to him and praying for his recovery. On the field, they wore his number, 41, and, when they became Intercity League champions, they presented their trophy to Ahern's other brother, Chip.
"The outpouring of love and support we've received has been amazing, and it's definitely made this process a little more bearable for us," Joe Ahern said. "It's just a testament to the kind of guy he was. Super generous, had an infectious personality. People liked being around him."
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The community also donated $60,000 to a GoFundMe account in just three days. The account, established to cover Ahern's medical bills and college loans, will now also pay for his funeral and burial expenses. By Tuesday, the funds had surpassed $80,000.
In the hospital, Ahern's family learned he was an organ donor. One of his kidneys has now been donated to a 30-year-old man, something his family takes comfort in knowing.
As Ahern's family plans his weekend services, they expect a large turnout not only from the baseball community but beyond.
"In additional to his athletic accolades, he was a terrific human being," Joe Ahern said.
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