Devastated Family’s Warning After Their Beautiful 12-Year-Old Daughter Died Two Days After Visiting Hospital With a Common Illness

The distraught family of a 12-year-old girl who died two days after being diagnosed with a common illness have pleaded with others to not ignore their instincts if they suspect something is wrong.

Milla Foster died on October 19 just two days after she was taken to the Kapunda Hospital in South Australia‘s Barossa Valley.

Doctors looked at her on October 17 for an hour and a half before diagnosing her with gastroenteritis and sending her home with medicine.

Her dad and step-mother are now dealing with the unbearably tragic loss of their daughter after they initially thought her condition was improving.

Mr Foster remembers his daughter as a free-spirit who loved Taylor Swift.

‘She was a really good girl, I’m waiting to wake up and just see her,’ he told 9News.

The beginning of the end started when Milla told her father that she had an upset stomach and other mild symptoms that did not initially raise too much concern.

Mr Foster took her to the hospital with her step-mother Phoebe Kelly where doctors inspected Milla and determined that she had the relatively common illness.

Gastroenteritis, commonly just referred to as gastro, inflames the lining of the digestive system and can cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain and nausea.

Typically the illness only lasts between 12 and 60 hours, or half a day to two-and-a-half days.

Although it is unlikely, the highly infectious condition can result in death from dehydration and electrolyte imbalance in people with underlying health conditions.

Milla’s parents said that the 12-year-old’s condition was improving in the days after leaving the hospital until her sudden death.

Now they are left to wonder if there is anything else that could have been done to save the young girl.

‘You don’t think that gastro can potentially kill – especially someone so young and so healthy,’ Ms Kelly said.

‘Even if the doctors say you might be paranoid or if you’re just over-cautious – just listen to [your gut], because it’s there for a reason.’

The family has set up a GoFundMe to raise funds for a celebration of Milla’s life amidst an outpouring of public support during this difficult time.

The fundraiser’s initial goal of $5,000 was quickly met and the total now sits $22,000.

The funds will go towards unexpected bills and a memorial service which is planned for a future date.

Read the full story here.