• Cassie Sutton was just five years old — full of life, starting school, and thriving. But what began as a simple sore throat quickly spiraled into a heartbreaking tragedy that could have been avoided

But within three days, 5-year-old Cassie had completely lost her voice, leaving her mother Jasmine and stepfather Justin deeply worried. Cassie wasn’t acting like herself, Jasmine recalled.

Concerned, the Australian parents took Cassie to a local doctor. The diagnosis was quick and seemingly straightforward — a viral infection. The family was told to simply wait it out, believing rest and time would heal their little girl.

But Cassie’s condition didn’t improve. Instead, it worsened.

Breathing became a fight for survival

As the days passed, Cassie’s breathing grew more labored, resembling what Justin described as “an asthma attack or the labored breath of someone with emphysema.” Alarmed, the family rushed her to the emergency room.

Despite obvious signs of distress, doctors again dismissed the severity of her illness after negative tests for COVID-19 and RSV. Once again, no bacterial tests were performed — and no antibiotics were given.

Sent home a second time, Cassie’s health took a devastating turn.

The hidden danger

What was missed? A common but potentially deadly bacterial infection: group A Streptococcus, or strep A.

This infection affects millions of children worldwide and is easily treated with a simple course of antibiotics. A quick throat swab can confirm the diagnosis. Untreated, strep A can escalate rapidly, leading to severe complications — even death.

Strep A often presents with a sudden, severe sore throat, fever, and swollen lymph nodes — symptoms that can be confused with a cold. But unlike viral infections, strep throat rarely causes coughing, making it easier to identify if tested properly.

A race against time

Back at home, Cassie’s condition deteriorated rapidly. Her lips turned blue, and she drifted in and out of consciousness. Justin began CPR, continuing for 10 to 15 minutes until paramedics arrived.

“She was going in and out of consciousness and had sort of collapsed in Jaz’s arms,”

Airlifted to Westmead Children’s Hospital, Cassie was given every chance. Doctors performed CPR for 78 minutes straight, but the lack of oxygen had already caused irreversible brain damage.

It wasn’t until then that a throat swab finally confirmed the diagnosis: Cassie had strep A. The infection was treatable — but tragically, the diagnosis came too late.

A powerful message

Cassie’s parents are left grappling with the pain of losing their daughter — a loss that could have been prevented with timely diagnosis and treatment. But rather than focus on blame, they have turned their grief into a plea for awareness.

Justin urges, “What I’ve said to everyone is we’re going to worry about those doctors later because that’s a fight for a different day.” Instead, the family hopes to raise awareness so no other parents suffer the same fate.