News

'I really don't believe it': Lowell child dies after being sent home from hospital

LOWELL, Mass. — A Lowell family thought they had a sick child and she would bounce right back. Now they are dealing with her death and planning a funeral at their temple.

The state said Puthiraskmey Sopheak is Massachusetts' third flu-related pediatric death this year. Her father is in disbelief days after she died from what state officials are calling complications from the flu.

The state says the 4 year-old is the third flu-related pediatric death this season. Sopheak's father says his daughter started getting sick last week.

"Monday and Tuesday she was hot. And I bring her to the hospital," he told Boston 25 News.

The father says doctors at Lowell General Hospital sent the child home on Feb. 12 with instructions to take Tylenol.

"I come back home and give her ibuprofen, two-a-day. She feels better," he explained.

This past weekend -- the family rushed the child back to the hospital when the symptoms returned. The dad says his daughter has had intestinal issues when she was younger and their doctors back home in Cambodia are awaiting the final test results to determine if the death was flu related. The child just moved to the United States a few months ago.

"All my family, they don't believe. No people to believe. I really don't believe it," her father said.

Visitation will be at the Glory Budhist Temple at 3 p.m. on Friday. The funeral will be on the following day.

PREVIOUS: Third child in Massachusetts dies from flu-related illness