A grieving mother is demanding answers after her three-year-old daughter died just days after a routine operation.
Perth girl Aliyah Yugovich died on Sunday after undergoing a tonsillectomy at St John of God Murdoch Hospital in the south of the city on June 28.
Hours later on Sunday evening, Aliyah was rushed to the Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) emergency department after the little girl developed a fever and flu-like symptoms, where she and her mother Jessica waited four hours to see a doctor.
Aliyah was diagnosed with influenza A and discharged three days later on July 3, but the next morning her condition deteriorated rapidly when she woke up coughing and vomiting blood.
Paramedics were called to the home and performed CPR for a prolonged period before Aliyah was rushed to Midland Hospital and placed into a coma.
She was then transferred to PCH, where she was placed on life support.
On Saturday night, brain scans and an EEG revealed that Aliyah had no brain activity.
The next morning, Aliyah’s life support was turned off.
Aliyah Yugovich (pictured) died on Sunday morning after being taken off life support.
His heartbroken family, including his mother Jess Yugovich, are still waiting for answers as to why the boy’s health deteriorated so rapidly.
In an emotional tribute, Ms Yugovich said Aliyah put up a “short but brave fight”.
“As we held her tight and the sun began to rise, she drifted off to the other side of the rainbow,” he said.
‘You were too perfect for this world Aliyah Mae, life will never be the same without you.’
Aliyah has since been remembered as a beautiful, intelligent and sassy girl who made… Everyone laughed and the room lit up.
An online fundraiser was created to help Aliyah’s devastated parents, Jessica, a small business owner, and Josh, a contractor, “as they live every parent’s worst nightmare.”
The couple have no personal leave days, a mortgage and are raising their one-year-old son Elijah.
“We can’t change what happened or ease your pain, but we want to help in any way we can during this devastating time,” organizer Tessa Pritchard wrote.
‘That means they’ll have more time to grieve their loss without having to rush back to work.
‘It will also help them have more time to spend together with their loved ones and cover funeral costs.’
The online fundraiser has already raised more than $72,000.
Ms. Yugovich said Western Australia that Aliyah was ‘unique’.
“She left a mark on every person she met,” he said.
‘Even if you only knew her for 30 seconds, you would never forget her.’
Ms Yugovich also paid tribute to PCH staff, saying they did everything they could to save Aliyah.
But she and her husband also told Seven News they witnessed a hospital system under pressure.
The couple now have many questions and have demanded answers to ensure other families do not experience the same pain.
A forensic report is expected to provide some answers about the cause of Aliyah’s death in the coming days.
Aliyah (pictured) spent two seasons in Perth Children’s Hospital, where she lost her brave fight for life.
Acting chief executive of the Child and Adolescent Health Service, Simon Wood, said a full review of Aliyah’s presentation and care would be carried out.
“The death has been reported to the coroner, as is the usual process, and the cause of death will be determined following the post-mortem and coroner’s inquest,” he told the publication.
St. John of God Murdoch expressed his deepest condolences to the Yugovich family.
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