A tragic incident unfolded when a six-year-old girl named Maya Siek passed away in her stepfather’s arms just two days after being discharged from the hospital with tonsillitis. Magdalena Wisniewska, Maya’s mother, revealed that she had expressed her concerns about Maya’s deteriorating condition multiple times, but her pleas were not heeded. In fact, Maya had even collapsed at the hospital before being sent home. Her final words to her mother were devastating, as she said, “Mummy, I think I’m going to die.” Maya, described as a kind and helpful primary school student, suffered from acute myocardial necrosis, a condition characterized by the death of cells in the heart. Pathologists have been unable to determine the exact cause of her condition, although a paediatric consultant suggested that it may have been triggered by sepsis. Ms. Wisniewska is seeking accountability for her daughter’s death, as she believes someone should take responsibility. Since December 21, 2023, the day of Maya’s death, Ms. Wisniewska has been unable to leave her house, overcome with grief. Tragically, Maya’s passing has also left behind her six-year-old brother, Nathan.
The incident occurred just days before Christmas when Maya fell ill on December 18, which greatly impacted the family’s holiday plans. In memory of Maya, the family has decided to keep the Christmas tree she decorated in their living room. Ms. Wisniewska, speaking about her family’s devastating loss, said, “We were once a happy family with dreams and ambitions for our children’s future, but we are forever changed. Though we continue to care for our other child, our lives have been shattered, and we will never be the same.”
Maya’s health began to deteriorate on December 18th when she displayed symptoms such as tiredness, weakness, loss of appetite, and feeling cold to the touch. The following day, Ms. Wisniewska made an appointment with a GP, but before they could leave their home, Maya collapsed again. She was rushed to The Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother (QEQM) Hospital in Margate, where she was diagnosed with tonsillitis. Despite expressing concerns about Maya’s stomach pain, pale color, white tongue, and cold body to the doctor, Ms. Wisniewska was assured that these were typical symptoms of tonsillitis. Maya’s condition worsened, and she even vomited while in the hospital bed, but medical staff offered her an anti-sickness injection and sent her home.
That night, Maya experienced a sleepless night, during which she received two doses of antibiotics and complained of stomach pain, thirst, and dizziness. The next morning, Ms. Wisniewska called emergency services as Maya was too weak to stand on her own. She was once again rushed to QEQM by ambulance. After testing negative for COVID-19, she was diagnosed with influenza and given a drip, but her condition remained pale and cold. By 3 pm, she was admitted to a children’s ward due to severe stomach pain and being unable to urinate for two days. Despite clinical staff reassuring the family that Maya’s symptoms were not concerning and that she could return home the following day, Ms. Wisniewska persistently tried to raise awareness about her daughter’s peculiar behavior, including hallucinations of monkeys that weren’t present. That night, Maya suffered from insomnia once again, desperately asking for water despite being on a doctor’s nil-by-mouth order.
On December 21, after yet another sleepless night, Ms. Wisniewska expressed concerns to the staff about Maya’s labored breathing, discolored skin, and disorientation. Nevertheless, clinicians dismissed her worries, claiming that Maya simply needed rest. In an attempt to help Maya sleep, staff even removed her heart monitor, fearing the beeping noise would disturb her. Tragically, at 3 pm, while attempting to draw a blood sample with her stepfather’s assistance, Maya’s heart stopped beating. Ms. Wisniewska recounted the heartbreaking moment, saying, “After a few seconds, Maya went silent, and my partner realized she had stopped breathing. No one else responded initially, but then my partner called for help. Eventually, all the staff gathered in our room, discovering that Maya’s heart had stopped beating. They initiated resuscitation, and her heart briefly started again, but ultimately stopped once more. It was at this moment that Maya passed away.” Ms. Wisniewska also shared that Maya had confided in her the day before, saying, “Mummy, I think I’m going to die,” to which she responded, urging Maya not to speak such words.
Maya’s stepfather, Mr. Blande, expressed his deep regret and guilt over the tragedy. He held Maya as she took her last breath, and he cannot come to terms with the fact that nobody was able to identify her condition in time. He believes that if the warning signs had been acknowledged, the outcome may have been different. Maya’s mother added that Maya would always be cherished in their hearts. She explained, “Maya was excited for Christmas, so that’s why I’ve decided to keep the tree. It will always be a part of me because Maya decorated it. We will forever hold Maya in our hearts, and we do everything we can to keep her memory alive. We even have a bench for her in Dane Park, near our house, under her favorite tree. We visit it every day, and it helps us reminisce about her.”
The family met with Tracey Fletcher, the chief executive of the East Kent Hospitals Trust, on December 28. During the meeting, they were assured that an investigation would be conducted to uncover the truth surrounding Maya’s death. In March, an independent consultant pediatrician speculated that Maya’s influenza likely progressed to sepsis, which produced lethal toxins that affected her heart. An inquest into Maya’s unfortunate demise was initiated last month but has been adjourned until September 25 to allow for a comprehensive review. Jane Dickson, the chief nursing officer at East Kent Hospitals, expressed her condolences to Maya’s family and emphasized the hospital’s commitment to investigating Maya’s care thoroughly. She stated, “We are deeply sorry for the loss experienced by Maya’s family. We are conducting a thorough investigation into her care to provide answers and identify areas for improvement and learning. We will continue to involve Maya’s family in the investigation and keep them updated.”
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
