OMAHA, Neb. —

Elkhorn North football is taking the field on Thursday with heavy hearts.

Head coach Sam Stanley lost his son Grant just weeks before his first birthday.

Grant spent his first year of life fighting.

He was born in November along with his twin brother Micah.

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Grant battled congenital heart disease, undergoing multiple open-heart surgeries.

He was also diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension.

The 11-month-old died on Saturday.

"He's touched every high school in our community, so I would imagine that the atmosphere will be electric. It will be highly emotional, but I think it's going to be a really special night," said Elkhorn North assistant principal and activities director Luke Ford.

It's a purple out at the Elkhorn North-Bennington game on Thursday.

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