A Lake County family is grieving the loss of their 6-year-old son after he died from rabies.

Michelle Roque said her son, Ryker Roque, passed away after she says he was bitten by a bat.

"My husband was at work one day and he found one in the woods and my son loves nature, loves bugs, loves lizards. (He) always told his dad he wanted a bat, wanted to see a bat," she said.

Michelle said her husband brought the bat home and kept it outside on the porch in a bucket and would feed it milk.

"We didn't let Ryker touch it. He said Ryker, 'Don't you touch that,' and right when Henry said don't touch it, behind his back, he put his hand in the bucket," she said.

Michelle said Ryker told them he was scratched by the bat, not bitten by it.

So she turned to the internet -- reading an article that said to wash the wound in hot water.

Michelle said two weeks later, Ryker got sick.

"First his hand was numb, two hours later, spasms, then he couldn't walk," she said.

Michelle said they took him to the hospital, where they found out he was bitten by the bat and had rabies.

She said they tried an experimental drug, but it didn't work. Ryker passed away Sunday.

There is an ice cream fundraiser for Ryker on Friday at Christian Academy Preschool in Eustis, where Ryker graduated from in 2016.

The school is also creating a book for their students in Ryker's honor to raise awareness about rabies.