Former NFL Player Brady Poppinga Sues Hospital over His Son's Death – Details

The ex-NFL player claimed that multiple physicians at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center failed to provide adequate care for his son.

Former Green Bay Packers linebacker Brady Poppinga has filed a lawsuit against a Southern California hospital and several doctors, alleging their actions contributed to the heartbreaking death of his teenage son in 2023.

Brady's son, Julius Poppinga, 17, was admitted into Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center's ICU. As per the suit, Julius's mom and dad took their son to the facility on August 27, 2023, with chest pains and breathing problems.

Before being hospitalized, Julius had used his normal asthma treatment but failed to get better. Additionally, at the hospital, despite receiving continuous care from doctors, his condition failed to improve.

On August 29, Brady and his wife Brooke stated in their lawsuit that Julius struggled to breathe and drifted in and out of consciousness. At one point, he woke up tearful and frightened, crying out to his mother that "he was going to die."

Julius's parents claim that a doctor misdiagnosed their son's condition as a panic attack and prescribed medication accordingly. They allege this decision was negligent and wrongful, leading to Julius's tragic passing shortly afterward.

According to the lawsuit, an autopsy revealed that Julius's death was caused by a pulmonary embolism. A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery in the lung, cutting off blood flow. Symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, and fainting. While potentially life-threatening, timely treatment significantly lowers the risk of fatality.

Brady and his wife have filed a wrongful death lawsuit, citing medical negligence and additional claims, and are seeking damages, though the amount has not been specified.

On September 4, 2023, Brady announced the loss of his son, eulogizing him as "a special soul that was an influence for good to all that he came in contact with." Brady also described his son as a compassionate and empathetic individual with a strong spiritual inclination.

From humble beginnings, Julius grew into a powerful young man, embodying a remarkable personal and spiritual transformation. "I am as proud of him as a father as I could be of a son. I love him and he will raise me up as I go to him," Brady added.

Similarly, Brooke celebrated her son, posting his pictures on Instagram and captioning, "I love you Julius Maximus. You live forever in my heart ❤️ My angel son."

A year after Julius's death, his mother remembered him in a special tribute, writing, "Julius, it's been an excruciatingly painful year since we hugged you or kissed your beautiful face. Missing you to the depths of the infinite universe. Your compassion and humor inspires me. I love 💕 u 4ever."

In her post, she shared a collage of photos of Julius through the years— as a baby, a young boy, and a teenager. Some showed tender moments with his mom, while others captured him posing with his sisters, Jazelle, Jasmine, and Genevieve.

Brooke wrote in the post made on August 29, "Beginning this morning at 5:58 am and for the rest of my life, I will be thinking of you every hour the minute on the clock shows :58 right before the hour changes."

Julius intended to follow in Brady's footsteps. According to a page dedicated to his remembrance, "His plan was to play D1 college football and follow in the footsteps of his parents serving a Christian mission abroad. His dream was to be an NFL football player like his dad."

Brady, who was also a linebacker at Brigham Young University, played over 100 games in his NFL career and won one Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers. He retired in 2012 and now owns a fitness equipment company.

Julius was determined to achieve his NFL dream too as he was known for his exceptional athletic talents. These abilities made him a standout in both lacrosse and football at Westlake High School. Brady was sure his son would have played at Brigham Young University as he had become strong and fast thanks to his training.

Julius was a well-rounded young man with diverse interests. Beyond his athletic talents in lacrosse and football, in his younger years, he enjoyed building Legos, playing video games, and dressing up as characters from "Star Wars" and Marvel.

He later studied martial arts, was part of a chess club, and had a passion for cooking, magic, and caring for his pets. Julius also loved volunteering as a camp counselor, mentoring kids, and offering valuable insight into challenging situations. His Christ-like compassion, sense of humor, and support for others made him a bright light to everyone around him.

Now, in the midst of their grief, Brady, Brooke, and their three daughters are surrounded by the cherished memories of their only son and brother, who Brooke described as a "joyful human being."

The family rely on each other, their faith, and family to help them get through each day. They also celebrated with Julius's friends the day he would have turned 18. The friends brought items that signified a memory they shared with him.

"The grief is the tough part that just makes you feel like you're dying inside. Like I feel like a tsunami has come over me and taken over my life and just washed me away in some ways," shared Brooke.

Brady also noted, "It's extremely terrible what has happened and it's, you know, words cannot even really, you know, quantify that." However, faith has been a rock that has brought stability and peace in Brooke and Brady's lives.

The Green Bay Packers sent a lemon tree to the family, which they have planted in front of their house in loving memory of their son and brother. Brady shared that they hope the tree will bear fruit, symbolizing how Julius also bore different kinds of fruits for his family to enjoy.