A fourth-grader from Texas died unexpectedly in her sleep, just three days after the positive test for COVID-19 – and now her family is desperately looking for answers.
Makenzie Gongora, 9, from San Antonio, was put to bed by her mother on February 2 after complaining that she was exhausted – and never woke up, according to “Today”.
“My sister-in-law later examined her at night and realized that she was no longer breathing and could not find her pulse,” the girl’s aunt, Erica Gongora, told the program.
According to the family, Makenzie first complained of stomach pain and headache on January 29, in his after-school program.
After the program team took her temperature and found she had a fever, the girl’s mother, Kristle Gongora, took her daughter to the Brooke Army Medical Center, where Makenzie tested positive for COVID-19.
“Kenzie had no breathing problems,” another aunt, Victoria Southworth, told “Today”. “There was nothing important going on. All symptoms were mild. “
Doctors sent Makenzie home, telling his mother to monitor the fever, Gongora said.
“The doctors told my sister-in-law (to) take her home and make her comfortable, to monitor her fever, and if she overcame a certain point, or if there were any other serious problems, to go ahead and bring her back to the hospital, ”she said.
“There was no hard breathing or anything at that point,” she added.
The family said Makenzie was small for his age, but they were unaware of any pre-existing conditions before his death.
The bereaved family now awaits the results of the autopsy to determine what killed their daughter.
“We just want to know,” said Erica Gongora. “Was there anything else that could have been done to save her life?”
A GoFundMe page created by Southworth raised almost $ 65,000 on Monday morning – more than double the $ 30,000 goal.
“We are still absolutely shocked by the show of love and support,” wrote Southworth on the page.
“May you, from the bottom of our hearts, to those who have sent prayers, good wishes, donations of money, donations of meals, words of wisdom and thoughts.”