Aliyah Yugovich: Perth family mourn loss of toddler nine days having her tonsils removed
- Aliyah Yugovich had tonsils removed at the end of June
- She deteriorated days later and could not be saved
- READ MORE: Young and healthy boy Cruz tragically dies in his sleep
A three-year-old girl has died barely a week after undergoing a routine operation.
Little Aliyah Yugovich was admitted to St John of God Murdoch Hospital in Perth's south on June 28 for a routine tonsillectomy and was discharged from hospital the next day.
Hours later on the Sunday night, Aliyah was rushed to Perth Children’s Hospital's (PCH) emergency department after the toddler developed a fever and flu-like symptoms, where she and her mum Jessica waited four hours to see a doctor.
Aliyah was diagnosed with influenza A and discharged three days later on July 3.
Early the next morning, Aliyah's condition rapidly deteriorated after she woke up coughing and vomiting blood.
Paramedics were called to the home and performed CPR for an extended period before Aliyah was rushed to Midland Hospital and placed in a coma.
She was then transferred to PCH, where she was placed on life support.
By 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 her life support was switched off
Aliyah has since been remembered as beautiful, smart, cheeky little girl who made everyone laugh and lit up the room.
An online fundraiser has been set up to help support Aliyah's devastated parents Jessica, who is a small business owner and Josh, a contractor 'as they live through every parent's worst nightmare'.
The couple have no personal leave days, have a mortgage and are raising their one-year-old son Elijah.
'We can’t change what has happened or take away their pain, but we want to help where we can during this devastating time,' organiser Tessa Pritchard wrote.
'It means it is more time they will have to grieve without rushing 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 $62,000 within hours.
Aliyah's mum Jessica shared a touching tribute to her daughter on social media on Sunday.
'After a brief but courageous fight, our baby girl gained her wings in the early hours of this morning,' Ms Yugovich wrote.
'As we held her tight and the sun began to rise, she drifted off to the other side of the rainbow.'
'You were to perfect for this world Aliyah Mae, life will never be the same without you. '
Aliyah spent two stints in Perth Children’s Hospital, where she lost her brave fight for life
Ms Yugovich told The West Australian that Aliyah was 'one of a kind'.
'She left a mark on every single person she ever met,' she said.
'Even if you only met her for 30 seconds, you would never forget ever.'
Ms Yugovich also paid tribute to the staff at PCH, stressing that they did everything they could to save Aliyah.
But she and her husband also claimed to Seven News that they witnessed an under-pressure hospital system.
The couple now have many questions and have demanded answers to ensure other families won't experience the same pain.
A coroner's report is expected to provide some answers regarding Aliyah's cause of death in the coming days.
Child and Adolescent Health Service acting chief executive Simon Wood said a full examination of Aliyah’s presentation and care would be undertaken.
'The death has been reported to the coroner, as is the usual process, and the cause of death will be determined following coronial post-mortem examination and investigation,' he told the publication.
St John of God Murdoch expressed its heartfelt condolences to the Yugovich family.
