West Texas News

The parents of a six-year-old child from West Texas, who died after testing positive for measles, shared their story in an interview with Children’s Health Defense's Polly Tommey and Brian Hooker, Ph.D. The interview was recorded live in Seminole, Texas.

Tommey and Hooker traveled to Seminole to understand the situation amid a measles outbreak in Gaines County, where cases are reportedly highest according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

The child's mother recounted her last interaction with her daughter, stating, "I just remember before they wanted to put her on the ventilator that she was very thirsty. Her mouth was all sticky and I wanted to give her water but they didn’t let me."

During the episode of "Good Morning, CHD," footage from the interview was shown. Tommey said, "This is their story. This is how they wanted you to hear it from them."

The parents noted that when their daughter first showed symptoms, they suspected measles due to other cases in their community. They sought medical attention two days after noticing a rash. The doctor prescribed medication for her cough and advised using Tylenol for fever control.

Despite initial improvement in her measles symptoms, the child's condition worsened with persistent fever and breathing difficulties. Concerned about her breathing, the parents took her to the emergency room.

At the hospital, staff questioned whether she had received the MMR vaccine; she had not. They diagnosed pneumonia in one lung but did not drain fluids as initially suggested.

The child was moved to intensive care and later placed on a ventilator while sedated. The mother recalled being told by hospital staff that treatments would not benefit her daughter.

On another visit home to see their other children, hospital staff called at 4:30 a.m., indicating worsening conditions and suggesting life support might be necessary. However, upon arrival at the hospital, doctors informed them that life support would not be possible as their daughter's brain function had likely ceased.

Their four other children also contracted measles but recovered quickly without hospitalization after treatment by Dr. Ben Edwards with cod liver oil and budesonide.

Tommey asked about media reports causing fear among parents regarding measles vaccinations. The mother expressed skepticism towards MMR vaccination despite media portrayals of risk associated with measles.

When asked what others could do for them now, the father simply requested prayers.

Information from this article can be found here.