A cause of death has been released for the eight-year-old girl who suddenly died in the middle of a SkyWest flight earlier this summer.
An initial autopsy was inconclusive, though officials did not suspect foul play and there were no signs of abuse of neglect. Now, the coroner’s office says after more tests they have an answer.
In June, Sydney Weston of Carl Junction, Missouri was traveling with her family from Joplin to Chicago when she became ill and unresponsive. While the Chicago-bound flight diverted to Peoria, members of the crew began rendering aid on the aircraft. Once on the ground officials began life-saving measures.
Unfortunately, despite aggressive efforts, Sydney was pronounced dead.
On Friday, Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood revealed Sydney’s cause of death was due to complications of “chronic primary adrenalitis in the setting of multiple infections, including Strep and Enterovirus.”
“Little Weston also had duodenitis (inflammation in the first part of your small intestine) and thyroiditis (a general term for thyroid gland inflammation),” the coroner said in their statement.
According to Harwood, this suggests Sydney had an “underlying autoimmune disorder.”
In Sydney’s obituary she was remembered for her “infectious joy and vigorous love for life.”
She died eight days before her ninth birthday.
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