A fourth-grader from Texas died in her sleep three days after she tested positive for COVID-19, despite experiencing only mild symptoms.
Makenzie Gongora, 9, was put to bed by her mother Kristle in the early hours of February 2 and never woke up, her family said TODAY.
Makenzie tested positive for COVID on January 29, after having a severe headache with vomiting in his after school program.
The after-school team took Makenzie’s temperature and found that she had a fever and was taken by her mother to the Brooke Army Medical Center.
Makenzie was tested by doctors for throat and flu infections, but the tests were negative. She tested positive for COVID-19.
Makenzie Gongora, 9, died earlier this month after a positive coronavirus test
Makenzie, in the center, is pictured with her parents Nathan, on the left, and Kristle, on the right
Makenzie’s family said they were unaware of any underlying medical conditions before his death
The family ordered an autopsy to determine the cause of death, which they believe was caused by COVID-19
Doctors told Kristle Gongora to take her daughter home to ‘make her comfortable’ and ‘monitor her fever,’ said Makenzie’s maternal aunt, Victoria Southworth.
“Kenzie had no breathing problems,” Southworth, 37, told the agency.
‘There was nothing important going on. All symptoms were mild. ‘
Makenzie’s aunts wrote in a GoFundMe that the young woman “appeared to be recovering over the weekend with waves of symptoms coming and going”.
But Makenzie started to feel tired and went to bed early on February 1st.
‘My sister-in-law later examined her at night and realized that she was no longer breathing and could not find her pulse,’ said her paternal aunt Erica Gongora.
Makenzie died sleeping on his father’s birthday and just three days before his mother’s birthday.
“She was small, petite, like a little fairy, but very protective, sweet, loving and very affectionate,” said Southworth. ‘I wanted to be friends with everyone. It leaves a huge hole in our hearts, that’s for sure. ‘
The girl’s family said they did not know if she had an underlying disease, but noted today that Makenzie was small for her age.
A GoFundMe initiated for Makenzie’s family to pay for funeral expenses raised nearly $ 70,000
Both aunts told the outlet that Makenzie’s body was sent to a laboratory in Dallas, Texas, to be examined and an autopsy is still pending.
The family has not yet received confirmation that Makenzie died of COVID-19. But Southworth told San Antonio Express News that his family strongly believes it was caused by the virus.
‘We are awaiting the coroner’s report; but our family is suspicious, because we don’t know anything else that could have caused it, ‘said Southworth.
‘COVID knows no age limit – my niece was 9 years old, had not yet reached the double digits. COVID IS HORRIBLE. ‘
Makenzie studied at Scarborough Elementary in the Northside Independent School District, according to Express News.
The school district notified the families of their classmates about the death and had additional counselors available to students and staff mourning their loss.
“Our thoughts are with her family during this very difficult period,” Scarborough administrators said in a statement.
Kristle is an essential frontline worker in the medical field and was vaccinated because she works with vulnerable patients.
Nathan Gongora, Makenzie’s father, is in the Army National Guard and also tested positive for the virus with the couple’s other daughter, Sophia.
The family is suffering while quarantined, which will delay Makenzie’s funeral, the media reported.
GoFundMe has since raised nearly $ 70,000 to pay for funeral expenses. Makenzie’s body will be sent back to San Antonio after the autopsy and she will be buried at the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery.