Kyle Vieira of Fernandes Masonry prepares the grade for a rubberized coat at the Noah's Playground on Popes Island in New Bedford. The playground, which is the largest in New England, is in honor of Noah Fernandes, 14, who died March 16, 2016, of complications from mitochondrial disease. Noah suffered the first of many massive strokes at age 5, one month into his kindergarten school year. He was diagnosed with Melas, one of the most severe forms of mitochondrial disease. The disease keeps cells from functioning properly.