In 2016, Jasmine Shortland’s life was forever altered when her 3-year-old son, Bryan-Andrew, contracted chickenpox. Initially, it seemed like a typical case, with only mild symptoms like a sore neck and slight swelling. However, what began as an ordinary illness quickly spiraled into a devastating tragedy that no parent should ever have to face.
Now, Jasmine wants to share her story with other parents in hopes of raising awareness and preventing similar tragedies.
A Routine Illness Turns Tragic
Jasmine, then 23, and her partner Josh, 21, had a happy family with three beautiful children: Bryan-Andrew, Austin, and baby Ivan. When Bryan-Andrew came down with chickenpox in August of 2016, Jasmine wasn’t overly concerned. Austin had previously had the virus without complications, so she assumed it would be the same for his younger brother. To protect their youngest child, Ivan, from catching chickenpox, Jasmine sent Bryan-Andrew and Austin to stay with their grandmother.
But that decision, meant to protect one child, would lead to unthinkable heartbreak.
The Worst Possible Outcome
The next morning, Jasmine’s mother made a horrifying discovery—Bryan-Andrew wouldn’t wake up. Despite her best efforts to rouse him, the little boy remained unresponsive. Emergency services were called, but sadly, it was too late. Bryan-Andrew was pronounced dead, leaving his family in a state of utter shock.
Reflecting on the tragedy, Jasmine told Daily Mail:
“The night before he was running around. He was happy. He was laughing and joking. It just doesn’t make sense.”
Her last memory of her son was him telling her, “I love you,” a memory that now haunts her every day.
An Unexpected and Rare Diagnosis
Weeks after the tragedy, doctors uncovered the cause of Bryan-Andrew’s sudden death—a rare and aggressive form of streptococcus A septicemia, also known as strep A. This type of bacterial infection can lead to sepsis, a life-threatening condition where the body’s response to infection causes organ failure.
The source of the infection? Scratching his chickenpox sores.
Jasmine explained:
“There were no symptoms because it was so rare. He just had normal symptoms for mumps. He had no rash, nothing that you would normally have.”
The infection had progressed so rapidly that Bryan-Andrew’s small body couldn’t fight it off.
Unimaginable Grief
Jasmine found some solace in knowing that her son had passed peacefully in his sleep and hadn’t suffered. But the grief didn’t end there. In the midst of her mourning, Jasmine discovered she was ten weeks pregnant. Tragically, the stress of losing Bryan-Andrew led to a miscarriage. She nearly lost her own life as well, suffering a massive hemorrhage that caused her to lose 75% of her blood.
“The nurses said there was someone watching over me that day, and I knew it was Bryan-Andrew,” Jasmine recalled.
Raising Awareness
Jasmine now dedicates herself to spreading awareness about the dangers of chickenpox, particularly the rare but deadly complications like strep A. She hopes her story will encourage other parents to be more vigilant and seek medical attention at the slightest sign of anything unusual.
While chickenpox is often seen as a mild childhood illness, Jasmine’s heartbreaking experience reminds us that it can, in rare cases, lead to devastating outcomes.
Please share this story with other parents. It could save a life.
Jasmine’s story serves as a poignant reminder to all parents that even common illnesses can sometimes take a tragic turn. By sharing her story, she hopes to raise awareness and help other families avoid the unimaginable pain her family endured.