3yo Aliyah Yugovich Had Her Tonsils Out, Days Later She Died

A three-year-old girl has died, less than a week after undergoing a routine operation in Perth. Little Aliyah Yugovich was admitted to St John of God Murdoch Hospital, in Perth’s south on June 28. She was having what was considered routine surgery to remove her tonsils. By all accounts the surgery went smoothly, and Aliyah was discharged the next day.

Hours later on the Sunday night, her mother Jessica rushed Aliyah to the Emergency department at Perth Children’s Hospital’s (PCH) after Aliyah developed flu-like symptoms and a fever, where she and her mum waited four hours to see a doctor.

Little Aliyah was diagnosed with Influenza A.

Aliya Yugovich who died after a routine tonsilectomy — Source: Go Fund Me

Routine Tonisil Surgery Devastates Family

She was discharged from hospital three days later, but suffered a medical episode the next morning where she was coughing and vomiting blood.

An ambulance was called, and Aliyah was rushed to Midland Hospital and placed into a medically induced coma. An EEG and brain scans were ordered and revealed no activity. Tragically, just over a week following her routine surgery, little Aliyah was gone.

Aliyah Yugovich who died after a routine tonsillectomy will always be remembered as beautiful, smart, cheeky little girl who made everyone laugh and lit up the room.

Just A Regular Tonsillectomy for Aliyah Yugovich

Looking For Answers

A Coroner’s Report, expected in the coming days, should reveal the cause of little Aliyah Yugovich’s who died after a routine tonsillectomy.

At least four people have died from Influenza this year and medical professionals warn it’s not as mild as many think.

Grant Waterer, from the East Metropolitan Health Service, told 7NEWS, “There’s a lot of viruses that can make you feel unwell and get a cold, there aren’t that many viruses that can kill you and influenza is one of them.”

Family Has Sympathy For Hospital Staff

Despite it taking a total of seven hours for Aliyah to be admitted to Perth Hospital, her parents say the staff were amazing.

What they witnessed, they said, was a hospital system under pressure.

They are calling for change, knowing it won’t bring their daughter back, but might prevent another unnecessary death.

They would like to see urgent hospital reforms, more nursing staff and desperately needed resources.

Little Girl Left A Mark

Jessica Yugovich said her daughter left a mark on every person she’d ever met.

“She’s just the most beautiful little girl – the brightest, funniest – even at three, all she ever wanted to do was make everybody else happy,” Jessica added.

A Go-Fund Me Fundraiser has kicked off for the family to help them through this difficult time. As they live through every family’s worst nightmare, Jessica, a small business owner and Josh, a contractor have no personal paid leave and a one-year-old to look after.

So far the fundraiser has raised over $75,000.

“We can’t change what has happened or take away their pain, but we want to help where we can during this devastating time.” Tessa Pritchard, the organiser wrote.

‘It means it is more time they will have to grieve without rushing back to work.

No one wants to imagine a scenario where a parent buries their child. It’s awful to think about taking your sick child somewhere they should get better. As the hospital investigates the root cause, we can only keep Jessica, Aliyah, and family in our thoughts and hearts.