In 2016, Jasmine Shortland faced an unimaginable tragedy when her 3-year-old son, Bryan-Andrew, came down with what seemed like a routine case of chickenpox. Aside from a sore neck and some mild swelling, the little boy appeared to be fine. Like any concerned mother, Jasmine took precautions to protect her youngest baby, Ivan, from getting sick. She decided to have Bryan-Andrew and his older brother, Austin, stay at their grandmother’s house overnight. Since Austin had previously had chickenpox without complications, Jasmine had no reason to believe Bryan-Andrew’s case would be any different.

But what seemed like a typical childhood illness soon turned into a nightmare. Now, Jasmine is sharing her heartbreaking story to warn other parents and raise awareness about a hidden danger she never saw coming.

Jasmine and her 21-year-old partner, Josh, had built a loving home for their three children, with a future full of promise ahead of them. They never imagined that their world could be shattered in a single night.

The next morning, Jasmine’s mother made a shocking discovery—Bryan-Andrew would not wake up. Despite her desperate attempts to rouse him, he remained unresponsive. Panic set in as paramedics rushed to the scene, but it was too late. Bryan-Andrew had passed away in his sleep.

Jasmine was in complete disbelief. Just hours earlier, her son had been running around, full of energy, laughing and playing. How could he be gone so suddenly? The shock was overwhelming, and she struggled to process the reality of losing her little boy. She clung to the last words he had spoken to her: “I love you.”

For weeks, the family was left with no answers. The grief of losing their son was unbearable, and the lack of explanation made it even harder to cope. Then, doctors made a devastating discovery that provided the missing piece to the puzzle.

Medical examiners determined that Bryan-Andrew had contracted a rare and aggressive form of streptococcus A septicemia, also known as A strep. This dangerous infection can lead to sepsis, a life-threatening condition where the body’s immune response to infection causes widespread inflammation and organ failure.

The revelation was heartbreaking. The cause? Bryan-Andrew had unknowingly introduced the bacteria into his system by scratching his chickenpox sores. A seemingly harmless action had led to a fatal infection.

“There were no symptoms because it was so rare,” Jasmine explained to the Daily Mail. “He just had normal symptoms for mumps. He had no rash, nothing that you would normally have.”

The infection spread so rapidly that Bryan-Andrew’s small body was unable to fight it off. Without any clear warning signs, the family never had a chance to seek medical intervention in time. One day, their little boy was healthy and happy. The next, he was gone.

Jasmine’s only comfort was knowing that Bryan-Andrew had passed peacefully in his sleep, without pain. But just as she was coming to terms with her loss, another devastating blow struck.

Shortly after losing her son, Jasmine discovered she was ten weeks pregnant. The news should have brought hope, but the immense stress and heartbreak of losing Bryan-Andrew took a severe toll on her body. Tragically, she suffered a miscarriage and nearly lost her own life in the process.

“I didn’t find out until I had severe stomach pain,” she recalled. “It was absolutely awful. I lost 75% of my blood. The nurses told me someone must have been watching over me that day, and I knew it was Bryan-Andrew.”

The loss of her son and her unborn child was almost too much to bear, but Jasmine knew she had to find a way to turn her pain into purpose. She decided to share her story to help prevent other parents from experiencing the same tragedy.

Many people view chickenpox as a common and harmless childhood illness, but Jasmine wants parents to be aware of the hidden dangers. Her message is clear: be vigilant. Pay close attention to your child’s symptoms, and seek medical attention if anything seems out of the ordinary.

Jasmine continues to raise awareness about the potential risks of scratching chickenpox sores and the deadly infections that can result. She hopes that by sharing Bryan-Andrew’s story, she can help other families avoid the same heartbreak she has endured.

Please share this important message with your family and friends. Spreading awareness could help save a life. Let’s honor Bryan-Andrew’s memory by ensuring no other child has to face the same fate.