8-Year-Old Sydney Weston Who Died After Mid-Flight Emergency Had Undiagnosed Disease, Coroner Says (Exclusive)
The 8-year-old Missouri girl became unresponsive while onboard a plane with her family in June
Sydney Weston had Addison’s disease, a condition her loved ones were likely not aware of at the time of her death, Illinois’ Peoria County coroner tells PEOPLE.
The 8-year-old Missouri girl, who experienced a medical emergency and became unresponsive while aboard a regional jet en route to a family vacation in Chicago, died shortly after the plane was diverted to Peoria on Thursday, June 13.
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“Sydney’s death was determined to be the result of an adrenal crisis secondary to Addison’s disease, a condition characterized by chronic adrenal insufficiency,” Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood tells PEOPLE exclusively.
Harwood adds that Weston’s condition was unknown “until the postmortem examination,” which means her parents were likely unaware that their daughter had the disease.
Related: Cause of Death Revealed for 8-Year-Old Girl Who Died After Mid-Flight Medical Emergency
“Addison’s disease can present insidiously in adolescents, with early symptoms such as fatigue, hyperpigmentation and unexplained weight loss often being subtle,” Harwood says.
He continues, “The situation was further complicated by the presence of multiple infections, including Streptococcus pyogenes (a bacteria that causes Strep throat), chronic duodenitis (inflammation of the small intestine) and thyroiditis (thyroid gland inflammation).”
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Harwood says that Weston’s infections triggered her “acute adrenal insufficiency” crisis — and explains why her condition deteriorated over such a short period of time. When the SkyWest Airlines flight made its emergency landing, Weston was not breathing nor had a pulse. The girl was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead at 8:05 a.m. local time.
“The body’s demand for cortisol increases substantially during infections, and in Sydney’s case, the inability of her compromised adrenal glands to meet this demand led to a rapid deterioration,” Harwood tells PEOPLE.
Related: 8-Year-Old Girl Died Suddenly After Becoming ‘Ill and Unresponsive’ on Flight to Chicago
According to the coroner, Weston’s autopsy was performed by Dr. Amanda Youmans, a board-certified forensic psychologist with significant expertise in forensic pathology.
Since Sydney’s death, her parents have learned that her 11-year-old brother Evan also has Addison’s disease, according to the family’s GoFundMe.
“Our primary focus now is on Evan, and ensuring his well-being,” the GoFundMe’s organizer Rebecca Lichtenberg wrote. “We are dedicated to managing his health and conducting genetic testing for our family to deepen our understanding and trace the impacts for our health.”
Harwood, who has three children of his own, tells PEOPLE he “cannot even imagine the heartache for this poor family.”
He adds, “Her death was nothing short of a tragedy.”
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