Brooklyn family says they weren't notified of son's October death at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center

"I have my phone. I don't change my number. I don't change my number ever,” said Vilme.

News 12 Staff

Feb 26, 2021, 4:41 AM

Updated 1,316 days ago

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A Brooklyn family is mourning the loss of their 26-year-old son. He died in October, but they say they weren’t notified of his death until two weeks ago. 
According to the medical examiner’s office, Stevenson Celius died from a brain injury sustained after being struck in the head by a child when he was only 11 years old. 
His father, Antoine Celius, and his mother Solanges Vilme say he’s been living in medical facilities after being paralyzed due to the incident. 
Now, they say they are questioning why they weren’t notified about Stevenson’s passing at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center on Oct. 13. 
Antoine Celius says he found out two weeks ago after a newspaper reporter approached him for an interview about his son’s passing. 
"The guy told me, ‘I just came to send condolences for your son’. I said what happened to my son? He told me, 'You don't know your son passed away?' I said no,” said Antoine Celius. 
Antoine Celius says he last spoke to his son via video call days before his passing and that he seemed fine. 
Vilme says she went to visit her son in December but was turned away by hospital staff due to COVID-19 regulations. However, she says even then no one informed her of her son’s death. 
Antoine Celius tells News 12 Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center and the medical examiner's office told him they sent a letter notifying him of Stevenson's death, but they had the wrong address on file. 
He also says they told him they couldn't leave a voicemail on his phone because his mailbox was full. 
"I have my phone. I don't change my number. I don't change my number ever,” said Vilme. 
Antoine Celius says he’s looking to speak with a lawyer to potentially pursue legal action. 
He says a funeral service for Stevenson could be held next month. 
News 12 reached out to Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center for comment and has not heard back yet.