Loved ones mourn ‘beautiful’, ‘smart’ Perth toddler Aliyah as they await a cause of death
A Perth family is grieving the sudden loss of their “beautiful” and “smart” three-year-old girl, who died in hospital at the weekend.
An ambulance was called for three-year-old Aliyah after she suffered a medical episode last week.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Family grieve death of ‘beautiful’ Perth toddler.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The little girl had been in and out of hospital in recent times.
She underwent a successful tonsillectomy at St John of God Murdoch on June 28.
But three days later she was taken to Perth Children’s Hospital with a fever and flu-like symptoms and tested positive to influenza A before being admitted.
After two nights in hospital — showing improvements, and being able to eat and drink — the hospital sent her home.
But the next morning, Aliyah woke up suffering a medical episode.
Ambulance paramedics performed CPR and she was rushed to Midland hospital.
Two days later she was pronounced brain dead at PCH and on Sunday, Aliyah passed away.
Loved ones have remembered the toddler as “beautiful”, “smart”, “cheeky”, and “full of life”.
“Her beautiful face will forever be etched in our memories,” one online tribute read.
Whether flu was the cause of her death is still unknown, with a coroner’s report to reveal what led to her passing in the coming days.
But four people have died from influenza in WA this year, and respiratory experts say it is not the mild illness that many believe it is.
“There’s a lot of viruses that can make you feel unwell and get a cold, there aren’t that many viruses that can kill you and influenza is one of them,” Grant Waterer from the East Metropolitan Health Service told 7NEWS.
Aliyah’s parents told 7NEWS the doctors and nurses at PCH are incredible, but they say they witnessed a hospital system under pressure.
They say it took seven hours just for Aliyah to be admitted to a room when they presented to emergency.
They are now calling for urgent hospital reforms, more staff and resources.
They know it will not bring back their daughter but say WA kids deserve better.
PCH says the death is under review.
Loved ones are supporting Aliyah’s family with donations to an online fundraiser.
Originally published on 7NEWS
