A toddler has tragically passed away on family vacation after her appendicitis was misdiagnosed as tonsillitis, her family has claimed.
Isla Sutcliffe, a two-year-old girl from Jersey, was in Turkey with her parents and sister when she suddenly fell ill and was seen by a medic at their hotel, as reported by Daily Mail.
According to her parents, Ryan Sutcliffe and Laura Carolan, the doctor initially believed that Isla's pain was due to tonsillitis, however, her mom explained that the discomfort was in her daughter's stomach, not her throat.
The following day, Ryan and Laura took their little girl to the hospital as her condition continued to deteriorate. They were then greeted by the same medic who was adamant that Isla just had tonsillitis.
Family friends have alleged that the unidentified health professional insisted that Isla was fit to be discharged with Nurofen and travel back to the Channel Island that night.
However, once at the airport, it was reported that the worried parents noticed that their child had become gravely ill so they rushed her to a hospital in an ambulance, per Metro.
A close family friend Taylor Kearns explained under a GoFundMe: "Isla deteriorated drastically resulting in an ambulance having to take her to hospital from the airport, to be told that it was appendicitis & sepsis, the appendix then ruptured resulting in the unimaginable."
"[The family] will all be returning back to Jersey shortly," they added.
A fundraiser page has now been set up by Taylor to "Help Isla's family following her passing in Turkey," and as of this writing, it has amassed £39,555 ($50,000) - exceeding the £25,000 (£30,000) target.
The donations will "help alleviate some of the financial stress that comes with such an unexpected loss," and support the grieving family with the travel, funeral, and ongoing expenses they are now facing during this incredibly difficult time.
"Isla brought so much joy and laughter into the lives of those who knew her. Her radiant smile and infectious spirit will forever be etched in our hearts," Taylor wrote. "Tragedies like this are unimaginable, and no family should ever have to endure such pain, let alone in a foreign country away from all family & friends, knowing she could have been saved if it weren't for the poor medical care provided and misdiagnosis."
"The last thing we want is for [the family] to worry about financial matters while grieving," it continued. "Your generous contribution will make a meaningful difference. Every donation, no matter the size, will go a long way in helping them honor Isla's memory and give her a dignified farewell."
"Your support will help the family focus on healing and finding strength in one another," the message concluded.
A spokesperson for the Foreign Office told DailyMail that they are "assisting the family of a British child who has died in Turkey."
Our thoughts are with Isla's family at this devastating time.
