“I kind of took her aside, was maybe going to get her some fluids,” he said. “She was just getting kind of weaker, just not acting herself.”
Lilliana was quickly taken to the emergency room at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
“At some point I was able to get close, hold her hand. At that point they just couldn’t do anymore.”
Hours later, she passed away.
Her family corroborated the report in a statement to the media.
“Apparently, an underlying Strep infection overwhelmed her immune system with little or no warning, and catastrophic results,” says the statement.
“We knew this report was coming and honestly have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand it changes nothing for us. But, on the other hand, we wouldn’t wish this nightmare on anyone and maybe this report might help prevent a similar outcome for someone else.”
The family conveyed their “appreciation for the outpouring of love and support from her friends, teachers, coaches, and administrators at Highlands Middle and High Schools, her extended family at Premier Athletics, plus the entire cheer community across this whole country, and most of all the good people of Fort Thomas.”
“We are so thankful, and honestly overwhelmed, by those that have reached out and continue to find new ways to support Lilliana’s memory on an almost daily basis,” said the family.
