Five-year-old Cassie was a bright, energetic child when she developed a sore throat and raspy voice. Doctors said it was likely a viral infection and sent her home without testing for bacterial causes. But within days, Cassie lost her voice entirely, and her breathing became labored. Despite growing concerns, her parents, Jasmine and Justin, were repeatedly told to wait it out. Cassie was never tested for Group A Streptococcus (strep A) — a common, treatable bacterial infection that could have been caught with a simple throat swab.
By the time Cassie was rushed to the hospital, it was too late. She was airlifted to Westmead Children’s Hospital, where a throat swab finally confirmed strep A. After 78 minutes of CPR, she was declared brain dead on August 28, 2023.