Five-year-old girl dies from Strep A after she was misdiagnosed with a cold in NSW

By ZAK WHEELER FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

Published: | Updated:

A five-year-old girl who died just days after she was misdiagnosed with a common cold was able to save three lives after her family donated her organs. 

NSW father Justin Sutton said his step-daughter Cathy was taken to the doctors by her mum, Jasmine, when she was told the five-year-old simply had a cold and would make a full recovery. 

However, when Cathy lost her voice and began struggling to breath, her mum rushed the little girl to the ER where she was misdiagnosed for a second time. 

Hospital staff said Cathy had a viral infection, but she actually had Strep A - a bacterial infection that kills more than 500,000 people every year.

Within days, Cathy's condition had deteriorated with doctors to pronounce her braindead soon after the five-year-old collapsed at home on August 28. 

Cathy, 5, (pictured) died within days of being taken to hospital with symptoms of a common cold

Cathy, 5, (pictured) died within days of being taken to hospital with symptoms of a common cold

Doctors told her step-dad, that Cathy (centre, with father Justin) had a viral infection but she actually had Strep A - a bacterial infection that kills more than 500,000 people every year

Doctors told her step-dad, that Cathy (centre, with father Justin) had a viral infection but she actually had Strep A - a bacterial infection that kills more than 500,000 people every year

Four days later, Cathy's mother JasmineWorobez decided to donate her organs which ultimately saved three young lives. 

Mr Sutton, from Bathurst, said that he knew something wasn't right after they came home from the hospital the first time Cathy was misdiagnosed. 

'The doctors just said it was a viral infection and to keep doing what we're doing and let it run its course,' Mr Sutton told 7News.

When Cathy's parents rushed her to the ER after she developed breathing issues, staff tested her for COVID-19 and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). 

When both tests came back negative, the five-year-old was sent home. 

Just days later, Cathy's lips turned blue and she collapsed in her mothers arms. Mr Sutton performed CPR for 10 to 15 minutes before paramedics arrived.

Cathy's condition deteriorated with doctors having to pronounce her braindead

Cathy's condition deteriorated with doctors having to pronounce her braindead

Mr Sutton and Cathy's mother Jazz Worobez decided to donate her organs which ultimately saved three young lives

Mr Sutton and Cathy's mother Jazz Worobez decided to donate her organs which ultimately saved three young lives

Emergency crews desperately tried to resuscitate Cathy and flew her to Westmead Children's Hospital where after 78 minutes, she was pronounced brain dead. 

'The coroner found the cause of death was Strep A, and Westmead had found that out through a simple throat swab,' Mr Sutton said.

Cathy's illness, if correctly diagnosed, could have been treated with antibiotics.

The lives of three children were saved by the decision to donate Cathy's organs with her mother to remember her daughter as a 'real life superhero'.

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help her family cover funeral costs and has so far raised $6,000 of its $10,000 goal. 

Strep ANew South WalesCold

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