A six-year-old girl died in her stepfather’s arms two days after being discharged from hospital with tonsillitis, the child’s mother has revealed.
Magdalena Wisniewska, 26, said she insisted her daughter Maya Siek was critically ill after collapsing twice – including one in hospital – but was released anyway.
And the tragic young girl heartbreakingly told her mother “Mom, I think I’m going to die” just 24 hours before she died.
The ‘kind and helpful’ primary school child died in the arms of her stepfather Raj Blande shortly before Christmas last year.
His heart stopped beating after suffering acute myocardial necrosis – the death of cells in the organ – and pathologists have been unable to establish why.
A pediatric consultant responsible for child protection told Maya’s family that it was likely triggered by sepsis.
Now her mother is calling someone to take responsibility for her daughter’s death.
She said she had barely left home since losing her daughter on December 21, 2023, who also left behind her six-year-old brother, Nathan.
Magdalena Wisniewska, 26, insisted her daughter Maya Siek, 6, was critically ill after collapsing twice – including once in hospital
The family was looking forward to Christmas at home when Maya fell ill on December 18. The family decided to keep the Christmas tree decorated by Maya in her last days in their living room.
The family decided to keep the decorated Maya Christmas tree in its final days in their living room.
Ms Wisniewska, from Margate, Kent, said: ‘We were just a happy family with plans and ambitions for the future of our children, but we are no longer the same family.
“We have completely lost the will to live but we are here because we have to take care of another child, but our life is ruined and will never be the same.”
The family were looking forward to Christmas at home when Maya fell ill on December 18 – she was tired, weak and cold to the touch, with no appetite.
The next day, Ms Wisniewska made an appointment with a GP but, as they were about to leave their home, Maya collapsed.
She was taken to Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital in Margate, where she was diagnosed with tonsillitis.
Doctors told her she could go home with antibiotics, but she collapsed again before being released.
Ms Wisniewska said: ‘I asked the doctor about Maya’s stomach pain, her white tongue, her pale color and her body freezing to the touch, but he said it was normal with tonsillitis.
His heart stopped beating after suffering acute myocardial necrosis – the death of cells in the organ – and pathologists have been unable to establish why
Ms. Wisniewska demands that someone take responsibility for her daughter’s death. She said she had barely left the house since her daughter died
“Maya was also throwing up in the hospital bed, so they gave her an anti-sickness injection and we went home.”
The Holy Trinity and St John’s Primary pupil had an all-nighter during which he was given two doses of antibiotics and continued to complain of stomach pains, thirst and dizziness.
In the morning, her mother called 999, scared because Maya was too weak to stand on her own. She was taken back to QEQM by ambulance.
Following a negative Covid test, she was diagnosed with the flu and put on a drip, still pale and cold.
At 3 p.m. she was admitted to a children’s ward complaining of severe stomach pain, having been unable to urinate for two days.
Clinic staff reportedly reassured the family that Maya’s symptoms were not cause for concern, adding that she should be able to go home the following day.
Ms Wisniewska said she repeatedly tried to report that her daughter was behaving strangely, even reporting that she could see monkeys that weren’t there.
That night Maya again could not sleep and her mother tried to comfort her as she begged for water which was rationed on a doctor’s prescription.
The primary school child died in the arms of his stepfather Raj Blande two days after being discharged from hospital
The mother said she repeatedly tried to report that her daughter was behaving strangely, even reporting that she could see monkeys that weren’t there.
On December 21, after another sleepless night, Ms Wisniewska raised her concerns again with staff, apparently warning them of her daughter’s trembling breathing, discolored skin and disorientation.
The mother claimed the clinicians told her that Maya just needed a good rest.
Staff reportedly removed her daughter’s heart monitor because they feared the beep would disturb her sleep.
At 3 p.m., as staff attempted to take a blood sample while Maya was being helped by her stepfather, her heart stopped beating.
Her mum said: ‘After a few seconds Maya fell silent and my partner found she had stopped breathing.
“At this point no one else even reacted as if something had happened, but (my partner) asked for help.
“Then all the other staff gathered in our room. They discovered that Maya’s heart had stopped beating.
“They started resuscitation to save her and her heart came back for a few seconds, but then it stopped beating. This time, Maya died.
‘The day before she died, she was very pale and she said to me ‘Mom, I think I’m going to die’, and I said don’t say that Maya.
A shelf of photos and flowers to commemorate Maya can be seen at the family home. Her mother said her daughter would forever be in their hearts
“We asked them for help because she was saying weird things like she could see a monkey moving on the wall.
“We tried to talk to the doctor and the nurse about it, but nobody listened to us. And then his heart stopped beating.
Her partner Mr Blande said he will never forget those moments.
He said: ‘Maya breathed her last into my hands. I can’t get over it – I don’t think I ever will.
“There were tons of people treating her, but none of them could find out what it was until it was too late.
“Nothing can bring our daughter back to us and I know our lives will never be the same again.
“As a stepdad I just feel guilty because I wish I could have done things differently because when I look back the red flags were there.”
Her mother added that Maya will forever be in their hearts.
She said: ‘Maya was getting ready for Christmas, which is why I still have the tree.
‘It’s always going to be with me because Maya made it.
“For us Maya, she will always be in our hearts. We do everything to keep his memory alive.
“We have a bench for her in Dane Park in Margate, near our home, under her favorite tree.
“We walk there every day. It helps bring back all the memories of her.
The family met East Kent Hospitals Trust chief executive Tracey Fletcher on December 28.
They were told that an investigation would be held into Maya’s death.
In March, an independent consultant pediatrician said it was likely the flu had turned into sepsis, producing deadly toxins affecting Maya’s heart.
An inquest into the girl’s death was opened last month but has been adjourned until September 25 for a review.
Jane Dickson, Chief Nursing Officer at East Kent Hospitals, said: ‘I am so sorry to Maya’s family for their loss.
“We are undertaking a thorough investigation into Maya’s care to help us provide answers to Maya’s family as well as to make sure we know where we need to do things differently and learn lessons.”
She added: “We will continue to work with Maya’s family and update her as part of the investigation.”
