Cassie Sutton was only five years old — full of energy, starting school, and doing great. But what started as a simple sore throat quickly turned into a tragic situation that could have been prevented.
Even after several visits to the doctor, Cassie was told she just had a cold and was sent back home. The reality was much more serious, and a quick, easy test could have saved her life.
It all began like many other childhood sicknesses: a sore throat and a raspy voice.
However, in just three days, 5-year-old Cassie had completely lost her voice, which made her mother Jasmine and stepfather Justin very worried. Cassie wasn’t acting like her usual self, Jasmine remembered.
Worried, the Australian parents took Cassie to a nearby doctor. The diagnosis was quick and seemed simple — a viral infection. The family was advised to just wait it out, thinking that rest and time would help their little girl feel better.
But Cassie’s health didn’t get better. Instead, it got worse.
As the days went by, Cassie’s breathing became more difficult, similar to what Justin said was “like an asthma attack or the heavy breathing of someone with emphysema.” Worried, the family hurried her to the emergency room.
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Even with clear signs that she was in trouble, the doctors once more downplayed how serious her condition was after negative results for COVID-19 and RSV. Again, they didn’t do any bacterial tests — and no antibiotics were given.
After being sent home for the second time, Cassie’s health took a terrible turn.
What was overlooked? A common but potentially dangerous bacterial infection: group A Streptococcus, or strep A.
This infection impacts millions of kids around the globe and can be easily treated with a simple round of antibiotics. A quick throat swab can confirm if someone has it. If left untreated, strep A can quickly get worse, leading to serious problems — even death.
Strep A usually shows up with a sudden, intense sore throat, fever, and swollen lymph nodes — symptoms that might be mistaken for a cold. However, unlike viral infections, strep throat rarely causes coughing, which makes it easier to spot if tested correctly.
Back at home, Cassie’s health got worse really fast. Her lips turned blue, and she was going in and out of consciousness. Justin started CPR, continuing for 10 to 15 minutes until the paramedics got there.
“She was going in and out of consciousness and had sort of collapsed in Jaz’s arms,” Justin said.
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Cassie was airlifted to Westmead Children’s Hospital, where she was given every opportunity to survive. Doctors worked hard, performing CPR for 78 minutes, but unfortunately, the lack of oxygen had already led to irreversible brain damage.
It was only after this that a throat swab finally confirmed what was wrong: Cassie had strep A. This infection could have been treated — but sadly, the diagnosis came too late.
Cassie’s parents are left dealing with the heartache of losing their daughter — a loss that could have been avoided with a timely diagnosis and treatment. Instead of placing blame, they have chosen to turn their sorrow into a call for awareness.
Justin says, “What I’ve told everyone is that we’ll deal with those doctors later because that’s a battle for another day.” Instead, the family wants to raise awareness so that no other parents have to go through the same tragedy.
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In a final act of kindness, Cassie’s family decided to donate her organs on Jersey Day, which is a national campaign that encourages organ donation. Three children were able to receive life-saving transplants, bringing a little bit of hope from such a sad situation.
Justin called Cassie a “real-life superhero” who, even after she passed away, made a big difference in the lives of others.
Group A Streptococcus affects about 750 million people around the world each year and is a major cause of sore throats in kids in America. If it’s not treated, it can lead to serious problems like rheumatic fever, which can harm the heart.
Parents should listen to their gut feelings. If something seems off, they should ask for tests — especially if their child’s symptoms get worse or don’t get better.
Cassie’s story is, unfortunately, not the only one like it. Strep A leads to around 50,000 deaths each year.
Recently, there has been a big increase in strep A infections in children in Australia, according to a study in Lancet Regional Health. From July 2018 to December 2022, three children in Australia died because of serious complications from this infection.
- Bad sore throat
- High fever that goes up fast
- Swollen lymph nodes
- No cough, but feeling tired and having a fever
If these symptoms appear, ask your healthcare provider to test for strep A.
Because sometimes, a simple test can mean the difference between life and death.
