MUM'S HEARTACHE
Boy, 15, died days after ‘paramedics said he was being over dramatic about a blocked nose and stomach bug’
His heartbroken mum believes his life could have been saved had medics listened to her cries for help
A TEENAGE boy died just days after medics allegedly dismissed him as being "over dramatic".
Treva Ashton, 15, was suffering from a blocked nose for three days before his mum Sharon Gauci, 45, took him to see a GP on June 24.
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Medics were alarmed that the youngster seemed confused so they told him to go straight to A&E.
Sharon, from Mount Druitt, Sydney, told : "[The doctor] said he needed to be looked at straight away because he was 'looking very unwell' and 'confused'.
"His temperature was 40C, and he had a low heart rate and low blood pressure."
But when they got to the hospital, the family were allegedly forced to wait 90 minutes before Treva was sent home with paracetamol.
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Nurses reportedly suspected the year nine student had a stomach bug or flu and simply needed to rest.
But his dad Darren Ashton said it was obviously something more serious.
"His eyes were rolling back, and he didn't know what was happening. He was confused and in a daze," the 45-year-old added.
Once they got home, Treva threw up, had visible chills and started complaining that his head hurt.
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That night, his parents were woken by his screams and grew concerned that he couldn't move his leg.
They called for an ambulance but when paramedics arrived, they allegedly said he needed to drink more water, adding: "He probably has a stomach bug or the flu and if we take him down to hospital, he will get other bugs."
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"'They said, 'You know how kids are, he could be being over dramatic'," Sharon added.
By this point though, Treva was "very white in the face" and the mum said she somehow knew there was something wrong with his brain.
His head was so swollen "it felt like it was going to explode", his sick contained blood and his whole body ached.
They had to drill a hole in his eyebrow to help ease the pressure and clean out his sinuses
Sharon Gauci
On June 27, Sharon called for an ambulance again and Treva was rushed to a different hospital, where he was put into a coma.
A CT scan revealed he had fluid on the brain and he was given antibiotics to help kill the infection.
Treva then had surgery to remove part of his skull, which was "full of pus", and drain the fluid before undergoing two more operations on July 1.
"They had to drill a hole in his eyebrow to help ease the pressure and clean out his sinuses," Sharon said.
A short time later, the schoolboy was declared brain dead and surgeons broke the news that there was nothing more they could do.
Treva's family later discovered that between the first ambulance and the second, he had suffered a stroke, before having several more between his operations.
His life support was turned off July 7.
Sharon, who will remember her boy as "cuddly, handsome and funny", said: "[His death] could have been prevented."
She has launched a to help pay for Treva's funeral.
The local health district and ambulance service said it "extended its sincerest condolences to the patient's loved ones".
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"A review is underway and the family will be kept informed as the review progresses," a spokesperson added.
"It is not appropriate to provide further comment at this time."
Red flags to look out for in your child
Infections, like colds and flu, and tummy bugs that cause diarrhoea and vomiting, are very common in babies and children.
Thankfully, most will make a full recovery without needing treatment.
However, you should phone 999 or go to A&E if they:
- Stop breathing or have pauses in their breathing
- Have severe difficulty breathing, such as grunting or noisy breathing
- Look seriously unwell – e.g. they are very pale, grey, or white, or have mottling (pale patchy skin with a purple tinge) on their arms, legs or body
- Aren't showing a normal colour of skin, lips and tongue – e.g. very pale, blue or purple
- Aren't awake and can’t be wakened, or are very difficult to waken
- Are breathing very rapidly, even when resting and when not upset or crying
- Vomit blood or have vomit that looks like ground coffee
- Have yellow-green or green vomit
- May have swallowed something poisonous
- Have a stiff neck and pain when looking at bright lights
- Have a sudden, severe headache
- Have a sudden, severe stomach ache
- Are confused or not responding as usual
Ultimately, you know your child best. Always trust your instincts and seek urgent medical help if you think there's an emergency.
Source: NHS
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