A Delco neighborhood in Broomall has been lit up in blue lights for several days as many homes and business have gone “Blue for Benny” to mourn the death of 2 -year-old Benny and support his young family. Even Lincoln Financial Field will be turning blue later this week in support of Benny and his family. “We don’t want any of this,” the boy’s father, Eric Petransky, told FOX 29’s Chris O’Connell. “We don’t need any of this. I just want my buddy back.” Tragedy struck the Petransky family when their 2-year-old son came down with a fever. By the next morning, Benny had stopped breathing. “I didn’t even touch my coffee. It was and 7:15 a.m. I heard her scream my name and I knew right away it was something bad,” Eric told FOX 29. The young parents called the paramedics, but there was nothing that could be done. Benny had tragically passed away at home on Thursday. No official cause of death has been released, but according to FOX 29, doctors are speculating that Benny fell victim to some kind of virus, although it’ll be weeks before the Petransky family will have answers. “There was not a sign there was anything wrong with this beautiful kid. This kid was dancing in the shower just the night before with his daddy,” said the father.

Benny is survived by his mother and father along with an older brother, 5-year-old Ari. “I have to be strong for Ari because he keeps saying, ‘Wipe your tears, Mommy. It’s going to be OK,’” mom Natalie Petransky told FOX 29. “I just don’t want him to think I’m not strong for him.” Their community has come together by turning their lights blue to show their support for the family after such a tragic loss. Nicole Gallo, a family friend, told FOX 29 the message the community wants the Petransky’s to receive is “you are not alone.” She continued, “You are not by yourself. We all feel your grief. We just want to honor this baby.”

Benny’s parents Natalie and Eric got matching tattoos in honor of their son. “I don’t know what next week will bring. I don’t know what next month or next year will hold, ten years, 20 years, but it will never go away,” Natalie told FOX 29.