Townsville boy Andre Daisy dies from meningitis after sore tummy, headache symptoms in Brisbane

A boy who died after his family spent a dream holiday in Queensland tragically lost his life just days after complaining of stomach aches and headaches.

Five-year-old Andre Daisy was in Brisbane with his mother Trudy Stanley-Thaiday, stepfather Jarick and three sisters on February 1 when he developed flu-like symptoms on the last night of his holiday.

The next day, Andre woke up with a headache and vomited, but acted like his “normal, happy little self” with his mother believing he was suffering from a common “stomach worm”.

The family started the drive home to Townsville, but it wasn’t until 2pm, as they were close to Gladstone, that Andre had a seizure.

His parents stopped the car and immediately called the ambulance, however, by the time he arrived at the hospital, his seizures had escalated and doctors placed him in an induced coma to allow his body to rest.

An hour later, the doctors made the decision to fly Andre over 350 miles to Queensland Children’s Hospital in Brisbane.

Andre arrived at the children’s hospital at 11pm Thursday night, and was told by his family that he would recover after promising MRI results showed he was stable.

However, Andre was sadly unresponsive despite doctors trying to relieve the swelling and pressure in his brain.

On Saturday morning, doctors confirmed his family’s worst fears and said there was nothing more they could do to save the boy.

At 5:45 am on Sunday, Andre took his last breath, just one day before his first day of school.

Andre’s mother, Trudy, and stepfather, Jarick, along with his father, Larson Daisy, and stepmother, Lana, were by his side in his last moments.

Andre’s mother, Trudy, thought her son had a “stomach worm” as he was his “normal, happy little self” despite having a headache and vomiting on the morning of his last day in Brisbane.

Her stepmother’s brother, Shaneen McCann, started a gofund me page for the boy and said both sets of parents held his hand as he passed away.

“Andre was surrounded by so many members of his family at the hospital, many of whom traveled to be by his side,” McCann wrote.

“They bathed him, dressed him, held him, talked to him, combed his hair, sang to him, gave him toys and treats while we all prayed for a miracle.

‘Andre passed away peacefully, still on life support, taking any decision out of his family’s hands.

‘He came to see the dawn of a new day and was watching the sunrise while being held by his parents and other family. With his hands on his chest, they felt Andre’s last heartbeat and spent his last day holding him.”

Mr McCann said Andre used to joke around with different sayings, jokingly telling his mother “when God knocks on the door, you better let him in” two weeks before his death.

As of this writing, the GoFundMe page has received 171 donations totaling $17,710, with funds helping Lana and Larson cover funeral expenses, travel costs, and ongoing financial support.

“He will be incredibly missed by both sets of parents, both sets of siblings, and every heart he touched. May he rest in eternal peace,” McCann wrote.

Andre suffered a seizure on the car ride home and was taken to hospital in Gladstone before his condition worsened and he was airlifted to Queensland Children’s Hospital (Andre pictured with his mother Trudy and stepfather Jarick)

Andre tragically died on February 5th. His family is raising money to have his body transported back home to rest (Andre pictured with his father Larson Daisy and stepmother Lana)

Andre’s aunt, Michaela Napier, described her nephew as a “sweet” and “good-hearted” boy who loved to play video games and always made people laugh.

Ms. Napier also started a GoFundMe page so her sister Trudy can take Andre home and lay him to rest in Townsville.

It is estimated that transporting Andre’s body from Brisbane to Townsville will cost approximately $11,000.

“He had no other symptoms, he had nothing, by the time someone knew something was wrong with him it was too late to do anything to save him,” Ms Napier wrote.

‘Because of how unexpected this was, we are now left fighting over how we are going to pay all the expenses.

‘I couldn’t imagine my sister’s pain and there is nothing I can do to help. So making this page is my way of helping her, so it’s something she doesn’t have to worry about.’

Ms. Napier’s GoFundMe page has received 78 donations totaling $7,865 and aims to reach $10,000.