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How the terrible tragedy of Treva Ashton, 15, who died after he was told he had a stomach bug and sent home from hospital turned into a lifeline for others

4 months ago 28

The devastated family of a 15-year-old boy who tragically died after being sent home from hospital have donated his organs so his legacy will live on.

Treva Ashton, 15, from Mt Druitt in Sydney's west, died from a brain infection on July 7 after his life support system was turned off. 

Treva’s mother Sharon Gauci wrote on the family's GoFundMe: ‘In memory of my son, my partner and myself have decided to donate his organs to needing families, we could save up to 10 or so kids so this tragedy does not seem meaningless to us.’

Ms Gauci told Daily Mail Australia, 'We donated both his eyes, both kidneys, lungs, heart and pancreas,' she said.

'My baby died a hero.'

Treva's parents claim hospital staff and paramedics dismissed his symptoms as a stomach bug and the flu, and he died from a brain infection just days later.

Treva first went to the doctor with his mum on June 24 after feeling unwell for about three days. 

The year nine student initially had a blocked nose but started feeling worse and vomited on the night of June 23. 

The family of Treva Ashton (pictured), 15, from Mt Druitt in Sydney's west have donated his organs so his legacy will live on

Ms Gauci said her son was experiencing confusion at their initial visit to their GP, alarming the doctor. 

'Our doctor said "he's not meant to be here" and gave us a letter to take to the hospital, which said he needed to be looked at straight away because he was "looking very unwell" and "confused",' she said.

'His temperature was 40C, and he had a low heart rate and low blood pressure.'

But at Mt Druitt Hospital later that day, the family claimed they waited for about one-and-a-half hours - at which point they were told to take Treva home to rest and given two Panadol tablets.

The family claims a triage nurse told them that Treva 'probably just has a stomach bug or the flu'.

'His eyes were rolling back, and he didn't know what was happening,' Treva's father Darren Ashton said.

A teenage boy, allegedly dismissed by hospital staff and paramedics as having a stomach bug and the flu, tragically died days later because his sinus infection had spread to his brain

Ms Gauci said her son was unwilling to wait any longer to see a doctor, and nursing staff said he was OK despite his high temperature, so the family returned home.

But once they got to their house, Treva started vomiting.

Treva could hardly eat and experienced headaches throughout the night, and was given Sudafed and Panadol.

The next day the symptoms escalated further, with Treva complaining about losing movement in a leg.

Overnight the family was woken by Treva's screams, and an ambulance was called to the house at 4.37am on June 26.

But when the ambulance arrived, Ms Gauchi claims the paramedic was skeptical about the seriousness of the situation and suggested the teen just needed to drink plenty of fluids.

'But he was very white in the face. And I know my boy. Something wasn't right,' she said.

'You could see it in his eyes, he wouldn't look at you. I said there was something wrong with his brain.'

'And she (the paramedic) said "no, when you have the flu, you act like that".'

When Treva's parents pointed out that he had lost movement in one of his legs, the couple said the paramedic blamed the loss of feeling on numbness.

However, Treva's condition worsened that day and into the night. 

His family observed that his head was swollen, his vomit contained blood, and he was experiencing body aches. 

Treva said his head felt like it was 'going to explode'.

An ambulance was called at 9.10am on June 27, and arrived soon after.

This time, the paramedics rushed the 15-year-old to Nepean Hospital, where he quickly became unresponsive.

Treva's parents said they are still in shock and want answers about how their 'cuddly' boy was not a priority

'I could hear the staff say "we're going to lose him, we're going to lose him"', his mother said.

Once the teen was put into an induced coma and onto a ventilator, medical staff administered antibiotics to help kill the infection.

But Treva's CT scan results showed he had fluid on the brain.

'They had to rush him into surgery to remove part of his skull so his brain could swell, as well as drain fluid and then put the skull back in later,' an emotional Ms Gauci said. 

Remaining sedated in the ICU and on antibiotics, Treva's surgeons had to perform another operation on July 1.

'They had to drill a hole in his eyebrow to help ease the pressure and clean out his sinuses,' MS Gauci said.

But after the sinus operation, the pressure on Treva's brain kept rising, and the same day, the 15-year-old was rushed back into operating theatre - this time to remove the other front part of his skull.

The family were told part of Treva's brain was dead, and the surgeon then delivered the tragic news that their boy would not recover.

'The surgeon said "there was nothing we could do". The nurses were crying because they don't normally treat children. Everyone was so upset,' Mr Ashton said. 

'We also found out that in between the first ambulance and the second one, he had a stroke.

'We were also told that between the first and second operations, he had multiple strokes.'

The family has started a GoFundMe to help them meet expenses and has become aware that unauthorised fundraisers have already been started in their son's name.

In a statement provided to Daily Mail Australia, Western Sydney Local Health District and NSW Ambulance said that they 'extend their sincere condolences to the patient’s loved ones'.

'A review is underway and the family will be kept informed as the review progresses.'

'It is not appropriate to provide further comment at this time.'

Treva's parents said they are still in shock at how quickly everything happened and want answers about how their 'cuddly, handsome, funny' boy was treated. 

'It could have been prevented. I want justice for my boy,' Ms Gauci said.

Treva's parents said they are yet to receive any apologies or explanations from the paramedics or NSW Health, but don't want to pursue any action until after the funeral.

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