In 2016, Jasmine Shortland’s world was turned upside down when her 3-year-old son, Bryan-Andrew, came down with chickenpox. At first, it seemed like a mild case—just a sore neck and some swelling—but nothing to suggest anything serious. Like any concerned mother, Jasmine wanted to protect her younger baby, Ivan, from catching the virus. She decided to take Bryan-Andrew and his older brother, Austin, to their grandmother’s house for a short stay.

Since Austin had already had chickenpox without complications, Jasmine assumed Bryan-Andrew would recover just as easily. But what should have been an ordinary childhood illness turned into an unimaginable nightmare. Jasmine now shares her story to warn other parents of a hidden danger she never saw coming.

Jasmine and her 21-year-old partner, Josh, had a beautiful family with three young children and a bright future ahead. But in 2016, tragedy struck, bringing a grief no parent should ever have to bear.

One night, after dropping Bryan-Andrew and Austin off at their grandmother’s house, Jasmine went to bed without any worries. The next morning, however, her mother made a shocking discovery—Bryan-Andrew would not wake up. Despite desperate attempts to rouse him, the little boy was unresponsive.

Paramedics rushed to the scene, but it was too late. Bryan-Andrew had passed away in his sleep. Jasmine was in complete shock. Just the night before, her son had been full of life, laughing and playing as usual. She struggled to understand how he could be gone so suddenly. The last words he had spoken to her echoed in her mind: “I love you.”

The pain of losing her son was overwhelming, but the lack of explanation made it even harder to bear. For weeks, Jasmine and her family were left wondering what had taken their little boy from them without any warning. Then, doctors made a heartbreaking and unexpected discovery.

Bryan-Andrew had contracted a rare and aggressive form of streptococcus A septicemia, commonly known as A strep. This type of infection can lead to blood poisoning, also known as sepsis, which can quickly turn fatal.

The most devastating part? He had likely introduced the infection into his body by scratching his chickenpox sores. What seemed like an innocent act—a normal reaction to itchy skin—had led to an unstoppable 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.”

Because Bryan-Andrew’s body was so small, he couldn’t fight off the aggressive infection. It spread rapidly, turning into sepsis before anyone realized what was happening. Jasmine was left with endless questions—how could something so seemingly harmless turn deadly? How could there have been no warning signs?

The only small comfort Jasmine found was in knowing her son had passed away peacefully in his sleep. He had not suffered. But her nightmare was far from over.

Amidst her grief, Jasmine discovered she was ten weeks pregnant. The news should have been a source of hope, but the immense stress and heartbreak of losing Bryan-Andrew took a toll on her body. Tragically, she suffered a miscarriage, nearly losing 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 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 speak out and raise awareness about the hidden dangers of chickenpox, encouraging parents to stay vigilant.

Most people think of chickenpox as a routine childhood illness, but Jasmine wants parents to know that, in rare cases, complications can be fatal. Her message is clear: pay close attention, monitor symptoms carefully, and seek medical help immediately if anything seems unusual.

As she continues to heal from her unimaginable losses, Jasmine hopes her story will help prevent other families from experiencing the same heartbreak. She urges parents to take every precaution and never underestimate the potential dangers of what may seem like a harmless childhood illness.

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.