Parents Advocate for Sepsis Awareness After Tragic Loss of Daughter

The parents of Cathy Kassis, a five-year-old girl who tragically passed away from sepsis, are urging other parents to be proactive by asking doctors a critical question concerning their children’s health—”Is it sepsis?”

Jazz and Justin Kassis, Cathy’s parents, were not overly worried when their lively daughter fell ill during the winter of 2023. Initially, they believed Cathy was suffering from croup, a common viral infection in children. Consequently, they visited their local general practitioner (GP) and were prescribed prednisone, a treatment for viral infections.

However, Cathy’s condition worsened over the subsequent weeks. Despite another visit to the GP, her symptoms persisted. One night, the situation became dire as Cathy struggled to breathe, prompting her parents to rush her to Bathurst Base Hospital in the New South Wales Central Tablelands.

Upon arrival, Cathy was taken for examination, but the attending doctor was called away for an urgent resuscitation case, leaving Cathy and her parents to wait again. Eventually, hospital staff instructed them to continue administering over-the-counter medications such as Panadol and Nurofen, based on guidance from a paediatrician who never directly examined Cathy.

Tragically, Cathy left the hospital without a diagnosis and remained severely ill. Unknown at the time, she was suffering from sepsis caused by a strep A infection, which led to cardiac arrest two days later. Justin performed CPR on his daughter while waiting for the ambulance, yet Cathy could not be saved. She was airlifted to Westmead Children's Hospital in Sydney for urgent care, but the diagnosis came too late, and Cathy was declared brain dead after a traumatic night.

In the aftermath, Justin and Jazz are pushing for increased awareness around sepsis detection. Their message to fellow parents is simple: “As a parent, trust your instincts when something seems wrong with your child, and don’t hesitate to ask, ‘Is it sepsis?'” They further emphasize the need for thorough testing for infections like strep A, which were overlooked in Cathy’s case.

The Western New South Wales Local Health District (WNSWLHD) has expressed their deepest condolences to the Kassis family. In a formal statement, they acknowledged the severe impact Cathy’s death has had on her family and the local community. The case has been thoroughly reviewed, and actions are being taken to enhance patient care. The Clinical Excellence Commission has updated the Sepsis Pathways to assist clinicians in identifying and rapidly treating sepsis.

Cathy Kassis’ unfortunate death underscores the pressing need to recognize sepsis symptoms promptly, a sentiment her family hopes will be heeded to prevent future tragedies.