Former Gamecock, Wife Lose Daughter to Liver Condition

It's been a week of ups and downs for one Upstate family.

Just days after University of South Carolina standout Landon Powell inked a deal with the New York Mets, his life, and that of his family, has changed once again.

Powell's 5-month-old daughter, Izzy, died Friday night, Hardball Talk reports.

Izzy and healthy twin sister, Ellie, were born prematurely in September.

For the past months, the former Oakland A's catcher and his wife, Allyson, a graduate of Eastside High, have been waiting on a miracle.

Izzy was diagnosed with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, a condition where the immune system attacks the bone marrow and in Izzy's case caused her liver to be too big for her body.

The Powells had hoped she would grow big enough and healthy enough for a bone marrow transplant from her big brother, Holden. More of the family's story can be found on the Prayers for Izzy Facebook page.

In a note written to people in attendance at a prayer vigil for Izzy Thursday evening, Landon Powell wrote, "She has had such a short, tough life, but she has accomplished so much. She is my hero!"

Landon Powell also has a rare liver disease, autoimmune hepatitis, that will eventually require him to have a liver transplant. Each year, Powell hosts Donors on the Diamond in Greenville each year to benefit Donate Life South Carolina and raises awareness of the need for South Carolina residents to register as organ, eye and tissue donors.

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Memorial Services for Izzy Planned for Wednesday.