SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A young Yellowknife boy died on Wednesday in Edmonton after being kept alive for 10 weeks on a mechanical heart, just six days before his third birthday.

Jonas Konge died on Wednesday, after 10 weeks on a mechanical heart and just six days before his third birthday. - photo courtesy of Facebook

Jonas Konge was born with a congenital heart defect. During a scheduled heart operation in March, complications arose and his body could no longer support the procedure, forcing doctors to remove his heart.

"He had a valiant fight and he fought hard, but he lost," Niels Konge, Jonas' father, told Yellowknifer yesterday. "There were complications on Tuesday morning. By Tuesday night it was pretty obvious he wasn't going to make it."

A Facebook event asking people to light a candle in Jonas' honour on his birthday, May 17, has 817 "confirmed guests" and in the comments section, there are dozens upon dozens of condolences and statements of love and support - many referred to Jonas as a little viking, or a little warrior, and stated they were inspired by his strength.

The family had been facing troubles while Jonas was in Edmonton because the territorial government's medical travel policy only pays for one parent's trip to Edmonton per month. The parents had hoped to be together with their son during that time, but also needed to make multiple trips back and forth to Yellowknife to take care of their other two children, and so Niels could run his business, Konge Construction.

The community rallied in support of the Konges, and the Bella Dance Academy held a fundraiser on April 18 for the Ronald McDonald House in northern Edmonton, which houses parents whose children are in the hospital, and which the Konges were staying in. The fundraiser raised over $3,000.

Niels said the family plans to hold a service in Yellowknife on Monday, but could not provide details of when and where. Condolences can be extended to the Konge family online on the CarePages website, on the page for Jonas.