Charles, the youngest of the Wright's five children, fell down the stairs on Thanksgiving Day. The family didn't think much of it until the next morning when Charles couldn't walk. The parents took him to the hospital where his leg was cast and he was sent home. Charles developed a fever and returned to the doctor.

On December 5th, blood tests showed an extremely elevated white blood cell count and Charles was flown to the University of Chicago Hospital.

His condition deteriorated and Charles died the next day.