A nine-year-old girl in Texas died unexpectedly in her sleep three days after testing positive for coronavirus, members of her family said.
Victoria Southworth, 37, Makenzie’s aunt, told the outlet that the girl’s mother had taken her to Brooke Army Medical Center to be tested for sore throat, coronavirus and flu.
While the streak and flu tests were negative, the Covid-19 test was positive, her aunt said of mothers.
Ms Southworth told the broadcaster that Makenzie’s symptoms seemed mild, that she ‘had no breathing problems’ and that ‘nothing was important’.
‘The doctors told my sister-in-law [to] take her home and make her comfortable, monitor her fever, ”the girl’s other aunt, Erica Gongora of Austin, Texas, told the broadcaster.
She said the girl’s mother was told that “if it would come to a certain point, or if there were other major problems, to go ahead and bring her back to the hospital.”
She added: “There was no difficulty breathing or anything like that at that point.”
According to Ms Gongora, Makenzie went to bed early on February 1 after complaining that she felt very exhausted.
“My sister-in-law looked at her later that night and realized she could no longer breathe and could not find a pulse,” she said.
The girl’s family reportedly said they did not know if Makenzie had any underlying conditions, but noted that Makenzie was a bit small for her age.
The family is apparently waiting for more information about her cause of death and her body has been sent to a laboratory in Dallas, Texas, to be examined. An autopsy is still pending.
“We want answers on why she was taken away from us so quickly,” Ms Southworth told KSAT.
Makenzie’s school district in Northside, Texas, said TODAY that they were “saddened” by the loss of the nine-year-old in a statement.
“The community of Scarborough Primary School is saddened by the loss of Makenzie Gongora from fourth grade,” they reportedly said.
“We think of her family during this very difficult time.”
Southworth has launched a GoFundMe campaign following the death of Makenzie to help her family pay for a funeral and memorial that has more than doubled the $ 30,000 target.
Her family members said Makenzie liked to make food and dress up, play arts and crafts and Disney movies.
Makenzie’s aunts said they were aiming to raise awareness that although children usually do not have serious illnesses due to Covid-19, they can become seriously ill.
‘[Makenzie’s parents] ‘followed all the guidelines the doctors gave them, and the doctors are also amazed at why Makenzie was one of the children taken by Covid,’ Ms Gongora said TODAY.