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Makenzie Gongora died in his sleep just three days after the positive test for COVID-19. (Image via GoFundMe)
A family in San Antonio, Texas, is asking parents not to underestimate the severity of COVID-19 for children after the death of 9-year-old Makenzie Gongora.
On February 2, Makenzie died unexpectedly in his sleep, just three days after the positive test for COVID-19. According to the family, the 4th grade student showed “mild” symptoms, but without breathing problems.
Kristle Gongora, Makenzie’s mother, took her to the Brooke Army Medical Center on January 29, where she was tested for strep, flu and COVID. Earlier in the day, Makenzie reportedly complained of headaches and stomach upsets to employees at her after-school care center, who discovered that she also had a fever. Although the strep and flu tests were negative, Makenzie was positive for COVID-19.
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In an interview with TODAY, Erica Gongora, Makenzie’s paternal aunt, said that Makenzie was not having trouble breathing when she was sent home from the medical center.
Makenzie Gongora died three days after his test was positive for COVID-19. (Image via GoFundMe)
“The doctors told my sister-in-law (to) take her home and make her comfortable, to monitor her fever, and if she got over a certain point, or if there were any other serious problems that occurred, to go ahead and bring her back to the hospital, “said Gongora. “There was no hard breathing or anything, at that point.”
Over the next few days, Makenzie’s symptoms remained supposedly moderate. On February 1, Makenzie complained that she was upset and tired and asked to go to bed early. She died sleeping in the early hours of February 2, her father’s birthday.
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In the hours following Makenzie’s death, his father Nathan, an Army National Guard, and his younger sister, Sophia, also tested positive for COVID-19. Kristle, a medical assistant and essential frontline worker, had already been vaccinated and the test was negative.
Makenzie Gongora died in his sleep in the early hours of February 2, his father Nathan’s birthday.
Makenzie’s family is unaware of any underlying health conditions, but noted that she was small for her age. The Gongoras are currently waiting for a report from medical examiners to officially determine the cause of death.
The family hopes that when sharing Makenzie’s story, people will not underestimate the severity of COVID-19 for children.
“(Makenzie’s parents) followed all the directions they received from doctors, and doctors are also perplexed (how much) why Makenzie was one of the children taken by COVID,” said Gongora.
Makenzie’s maternal aunt, Victoria Southworth told the San Antonio Express News, that his niece was a bright and happy child.
“She was small, small, like a little fairy, but very protective, sweet, loving and very affectionate,” said Southworth. “I wanted to be friends with everyone. It leaves a big hole in our hearts, for sure. “
A GoFundMe account was created to support the Gongora family. Click here to visit.
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