A Fredericton family is still coming to terms with the sudden death of a loved one, but they are finding some peace as they learn more about how the little boy died.

Garrett Blois was headed to Priestman Street Elementary the morning of March 10 when he suddenly collapsed. The nine-year-old later died in hospital.

He was buried on Monday.

“You know, I believe he’s with God, but it gives you something to be able to see and go up and visit him once in a while and make sure everything is good,” says the boy’s father, John Blois.

“But at the same time, it’s hard. It’s just like going through it all over again.”

Since his son’s funeral, Blois has been trying to find out why he died. At first, his death was termed a sudden cardiac event.

Now, doctors say Garrett had inherited a rare heart condition known as long QT syndrome, which caused his heart to beat erratically.

“There is medication available that can treat it but the worst of it is that, most of the time, before they’re able to find out about it is when it occurs, and usually it’s too late,” says Blois.

Still, he says finding out what happened to his son has been helping him move forward. He says he is also comforted by the fact that Garrett’s passing was peaceful.

“He felt no pain at all, he just passed out as if he fell asleep very quickly,” says Blois. “He didn’t suffer and I’m glad. That was a big thing for me.”

Blois says he and other members of his family have begun the process of getting tested for long QT syndrome, which can be difficult to diagnose.

Garrett would have been finishing Grade 4 at Priestman Street Elementary later this month. Students at the school will end the year by saying goodbye to their friend.

“The students, they wanted to do a sock day,” says teacher Rachelle Colter. “Garrett never wanted to wear sneakers in class and it became sort of a class joke between him and I.”

Blois says he has been touched by the outpouring of support from people in the community since his son’s tragic death.

“There’s a lot of good people out there that you don’t see until something like this happens and it’s hard to put it into words what it means that people care.”

With files from CTV Atlantic's Nick Moore