After Doctors Misdiagnosed Her with a Cold, a 5-Year-Old Girl Died from a Treatable Illness Common in Children

A little girl lost her voice just days after falling ill. Doctors called it a viral infection. Her parents were told to wait it out. But what no one realized at the time was that a simple throat swab might have saved her life. Cassie was just five years old, energetic and bright, when she started showing signs of illness during her first year of school. At first, it seemed harmless: a sore throat and a raspy voice. Doctors saw nothing alarming and assured her parents that it was likely a seasonal virus. But her mother, Jasmine, and stepfather, Justin Sutton, sensed something deeper was wrong. Within three days, Cassie lost her voice completely. Despite their concern, they were told to monitor her at home. She was not tested for bacterial infections. No antibiotics were prescribed. As days passed, Cassie’s condition deteriorated. Her breathing became shallow and labored, resembling someone struggling with asthma. Alarmed, her parents rushed her to the emergency room. Tests for COVID-19 and RSV came back negative, and again they were told it was a viral infection. She was sent home without further testing. The real culprit was Group A Streptococcus, better known as strep A —… CONTINUE READING…