Former X-Factor star, Aussie musician Joey Dija warns parents after baby’s life-threatening illness

An Aussie musician and former X-Factor contestant is warning other parents after her baby became ill with a life-threatening disease.

Joanne Hadjia — known professionally as Joey Dija — revealed her six-month-old son Axe started developing fevers before breaking out in a severe rash.

The 34-year-old — who has two sets of twins — rushed little Axe to the hospital but was sent home by doctors.

“No parent ever expects their baby to get a life-threatening illness but it did happen to us and I want to spread awareness,” Dija said.

“My son Axe just kept getting these fevers, we went to urgent care when he developed a pretty significant rash but they sent us home and just said to keep an eye on it.

“He kept getting worse and at one point he started to get swollen and I rushed him to the ER. . .they took him in immediately and started running tests.”

Axe underwent blood tests, ultrasounds and heart scans but all results showed nothing was wrong.

Dija said it took four different doctors and her own research to get a diagnosis.

“I kept saying, ‘I’m not a paranoid mum but something feels wrong, his siblings are not sick’.

“It was his second night in hospital and I was home researching like crazy and I found it on ChatGPT, I told my husband ‘tell (the doctors) Kawasaki disease.’”

The doctors confirmed her suspicions and diagnosed Axe with the disease.

Kawasaki disease causes inflammation in the walls of blood vessels and affects the heart arteries in children. It’s not known what causes the disease but it is not contagious.

Without treatment, Kawasaki disease can cause lasting damage to heart arteries and can sometimes even be fatal.

Dija wants other parents to be aware of the symptoms which can include a rash on the main part of the body or in the genital area, enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, red eyes, cracked lips, swollen tongue, hands or feet.

Dija confirmed Axe’s condition improved after 12 hours of treatment and he now has three months of heart check ups.