Parents' emotional plea after undiagnosed sepsis took the life of ...

The parents of a five-year-old girl who died of sepsis are encouraging fellow parents to ask doctors a simple question that could save a child's life.

Jazz and Justin weren't overly concerned when, like most little kids, their bubbly five-year-old Cathy got sick during the winter of 2023.

"We thought it was croup. So, you know, went to the GP, it was viral, got prescribed prednisone," Justin said.

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Five-year-old Cathy passed away after she became ill with strep A. which turned septic. (Nine)

"It started just like a normal cold-type thing, you know, bit of a runny nose got worse and worse," Jazz added.

But the next two weeks would shatter the young family.

Another trip to their local GP changed nothing.

Then one night, Cathy couldn't breathe.

They rushed her to the emergency department of Bathurst Base Hospital, not far from their family home in the NSW Central Tablelands.

"They took her in to be examined, but the doctor had to leave halfway through the examination to go do a (resuscitation) and she put us back out in the waiting room and said that they'd bring us back in," Jazz said.

Cathy's parents Jazz and Justin rushed their daughter to the emergency department after she began to have trouble breathing. (Nine)

"And then about an hour went by and they came back out and said that they had spoken to the paediatrician and that they said just to keep up the Panadol, Nurofen and what we were doing.

"So the paediatrician themselves never actually had a look at her at what was happening."

Cathy left Bathurst hospital undiagnosed and desperately ill.

She had sepsis, caused by strep A.

Sepsis, often called blood poisoning, occurs when the body's response to an infection damages vital organs.

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Cathy was rushed her to the emergency department of Bathurst Base Hospital, not far from their family home in the NSW Central Tablelands. (Nine)

It can be deadly, and, in Cathy's case, it took her young life.

Two days later, the little girl went into cardiac arrest at home.

Justin performed CPR on his daughter while they waited for an ambulance.

Cathy's siblings witnessed the whole traumatic event as it played out in the living room.

Cathy's siblings witnessed the whole traumatic event as it played out in the living room. (Nine)

She was airlifted to Westmead Children's Hospital in Sydney's west, where she was rushed for urgent testing.

But the diagnosis and treatment came too late.

After a harrowing night, Cathy was declared brain dead.

Justin and Jazz are still seeking answers and advocating for change to ensure those who present with symptoms are automatically tested for sepsis.

Justin and Jazz are still seeking answers and advocating for change to ensure those who present with symptoms are automatically tested for sepsis. (Nine)

Their heartfelt message to parents is to ask doctors a simple question - is it sepsis?

"You know, as a parent, you know your child better than anyone, so you know when something's not right," Jazz said.

"They didn't test for anything, for strep A or any bacterial infection, or anything like that," Justin said.

"I think they need to be looked at and studied closer, because I certainly do think [a test] was warranted.

"You're not meant to outlive your children."

FULL WESTERN NSW LOCAL HEALTH DISTRICT STATEMENT

We extend our sincere and deepest condolences to the loved ones of Cathy Kassis and recognise the profound impact her death has had on her family and the community.

WNSWLHD have provided her family with support and information, including the findings of a serious adverse event review.

We review all cases where there has been an unexpected outcome to identify any opportunities to improve patient care and safety.

Cathy Kassis' death was reported to the Coroner.

Group A streptococcus bacteria can cause invasive Group A streptococcal disease (iGAS) which is a serious, life-threatening condition that can cause sepsis, meningitis, and pneumonia.

The Clinical Excellence Commission revised the Sepsis Pathways in 2024 and these have been promoted across WNSWLHD to support clinicians to identify sepsis risk factors, signs and symptoms, escalate to a senior clinician and commence treatment rapidly.