Despite repeated doctor visits, 5-year-old Cassie was misdiagnosed with a cold. In truth, she had a life-threatening bacterial infection — strep A — which could have been detected with a quick throat swab and treated with simple antibiotics.

“She wasn’t acting like herself,” said her mother, Jasmine. As Cassie’s condition worsened — losing her voice, struggling to breathe, and turning blue — her family rushed her to the ER twice. Despite clear signs of distress, doctors failed to test for strep A.

Eventually, Cassie collapsed. Justin, her stepfather, performed CPR until paramedics arrived. She was airlifted to a hospital, where doctors attempted resuscitation for 78 minutes. But brain damage from lack of oxygen had already occurred. Only then was strep A confirmed.

Cassie’s parents now share her story to raise awareness. “We’re going to worry about those doctors later,” Justin said. Their plea: trust your instincts and push for testing when symptoms worsen.

Strep A can cause severe sore throat, high fever, swollen glands — without a cough. Left untreated, it may lead to deadly complications. Cassie’s legacy lives on through organ donation, saving three children’s lives.

Her story is a powerful reminder: “A simple test can mean the difference between life and death.”