Meningitis: Gold Coast girl Norah, 4, was told by doctors she had just had gastro and died days later
A four-year-old girl died just days after doctors misdiagnosed her as having gastrointestinal distress.
When little Norah Terei-Bristowe fell ill last month with a fever, vomiting and headache, her parents called a doctor to their home.
The doctor thought the four-year-old had gastroenteritis, but her symptoms worsened over the weekend and Monday morning, August 28, she was unresponsive.
Her mother Allie Broughton, 31, and father Trey Terei-Bristowe, 30, rushed their daughter to Gold Coast University Hospital, where she was found to have a rare case of bacterial pneumococcal meningitis. Gold Coast Bulletin reported.
Norah, who was described by friends as “pure sunshine and laughter,” died two days later.
When Gold Coast girl Norah Rae Tutukaa Terei-Bristowe (pictured), 4, fell ill with a fever, vomiting and headache, her parents called a doctor to their home
Norah (center) is pictured with her mother Allie Broughton, 31, and father Trey Terei-Bristowe, 30
About 300 people attended her traditional Maori funeral at Allambie Gardens on Tuesday.
Norah’s parents thanked Dr. Sebastian Rimpau and the ICU nurses for taking care of Norah.
“On August 30, 2023, we said goodbye to our princess,” they say in a statement.
“She was surrounded by her entire family and will forever be in our hearts and we will always hold our memories with her and all the laughter and joy she brought to our lives.”
They also urged other parents to take their children to hospital as soon as possible if they had any doubts about their condition.
“When we got to the hospital, the treatment couldn’t catch up with the rapid spread to her brain.
“This rare form of meningitis causes severe brain damage and there is no prevention or treatment that can save it.”
Most cases occur in babies and young children under 18 months of age, but there is no vaccine for the strain from which Norah died.
Family friend Wade Paniora has organized a fundraiser to help alleviate some of their costs.
The GoFundMe Objection had raised more than $20,000 of its targeted $30,000 goal by Wednesday evening.
Gold Coast radio host Emily Jade O’Keeffe, whose children were friends with Norah, said she enriched the lives of everyone who knew her.
“Our hearts are all broken for them and our whole lives will never be the same again,” she said.
She was just sunshine and laughter. It’s just so sad.’
Norah (pictured) is remembered as an enricher of the lives of all who knew her