Former Kogarah couple share tragic story of Sebby Chua’s ‘preventable’ death

An ex-Sydney couple who lost their four-year-old son to a preventable complication of a throat infection have shared their tragic story in the hope parents’ concerns are taken more seriously.

Four-year-old Neil Sebastian Chua, known as “Sebby,” couldn’t wait for his visit to the Te Papa Museum in Wellington.

But the trip was cut short after just an hour when his neck became sore.

Five days later, he was dead.

His heartbroken parents, Neil and Abegail Chua, have shared their story in the hope no other parents will experience what they have. They say their son likely died from a preventable complication from a common throat infection, which they believe was not diagnosed or treated quickly enough by doctors and nurses.

Just months before Sebby’s death, the family was living in Kogarah in Sydney’s south. Originally from the Philippines, they chose to move to Wellington after five years in Sydney because it was easier to apply for permanent residency there.

Neil Sebastian Bartolome Chua (left), aka “Sebby,” with his brother Sedric (right). Picture: supplied

They wish they never made the move.

Mrs Chua, a registered nurse, and Mr Chua, a trained Opera singer, shared this tragic timeline of events with the St George Shire Standard, which is largely based on text messages between the parents:

Wednesday, September 21

10am: Sebby and his two-year-old brother went to Te Papa Museum.

11-12pm: Sebby started complaining about neck pain, so they went home and let him rest. He had a fever at night.

Neil Sebastian Bartolome Chua and his family on a holiday. Picture: supplied

Thursday, September 22

Sebby continued to complain about neck pain, fever, and mentioned it “tastes like blood” when swallowing.

Around 4:40pm: Mrs Chua brought him to a local hospital for a check up. They pleaded for the doctor to recheck his throat and neck as it was swollen. The doctor diagnosed the neck pain as wryneck, and the fever as a viral infection. She disregarded Sebby’s remarks that his mouth tasted like blood.

Friday and Saturday, September 23-24

Sebby’s symptoms persisted. His parents followed the doctor’s instructions to give him paracetamol, ibuprofen, and rest. On Saturday night, a RAT Test revealed a faint positive line for Covid.

Sunday, September 25 

Sebby complained about joint pains in the morning. He was still eating and drinking normally. At night, Mrs Chua called a doctor, who advised her to keep looking after him at home and only take him to hospital if he develops rashes and swelling.

Sebby’s arms were swollen when he arrived at hospital but he didn’t have blood withdrawn for several hours. Picture: supplied

Monday, September 26

10am: Sebby’s arms and legs started to swell, so his parents immediately took him to a Wellington hospital.

11am: They arrived at the emergency department. Only Mrs Chua was allowed in with him, providing Mr Chua with updates via text as he sat in the carpark.

12pm: Sebby was seen by a female doctor and nurse, who gave him Paracetamol and said they will refer him to paediatrics and collect a urine and blood sample.

2pm: A male doctor visited but still hadn’t taken blood samples. He suggested it could be a kidney problem or rheumatic fever. Sebby’s shoulders were swollen and he still had joint pain.

2:18pm: A nurse gave Sebby morphine.

3:13pm: Doctors tried to get a blood sample but struggled due to his swollen arms.

Sebby’s parents say more should have been done to treat Sebby earlier. Picture: supplied

3:30-4pm: A doctor told Mrs Chua: “You have nothing to worry about:” and diagnosed Sebby with HSP (Henoch-Schonlein Purpura) also called Spring Fever.

5:12pm: Sebby was restless. Doctors couldn’t get a reading of oxygen levels.

6:47pm: Sebby was intubated.

6:57pm: Doctors started CPR. Mr Chua was finally allowed inside the hospital.

Around 7:30pm: Sebby passed away.

An emotional Mr Chua said his son should still be with them.

He said the coroner’s initial finding was that it was a complication of a simple throat infection that should’ve been treated earlier.

“We believe that if they started giving Sebby antibiotics earlier, something could be different,” he said.

“And they didn’t even let me be with him. My son called me twice, saying ‘Daddy, can you please come here?’”

The couple said they know there is a global shortage of healthcare staff, but that their son should have been prioritised as soon as the swelling began.

Sebby was supposed to start school next month. In the month since his death, his little brother has been calling out his name.

“We should never have left Sydney,” Mr Chua said.

“He (Sebby) should still be here.”

Te Whatu Ora Capital, Coast & Hutt Valley interim district director John Tait said the hospital that Sebby was treated at expressed its sincerest sympathies to the family, but would not be able to comment on the individual case as it is before the coroner and Health and Disability Commissioner.

“We recognise how distressing it can be to lose a loved one in difficult circumstances, and particularly a young child,” Mr Tait said.

“Like other Districts, we continue to experience pressure on our services due to such factors as winter ailments, increased demand for services, and staff illness. These challenges are not new, and are being seen by other providers around the country. Patient safety and wellbeing is our highest priority and we have measures, such as service plans, in place to ensure the best level of care possible. Staff work extremely hard to keep patients safe and supported, and to deliver safe care and treatment at all times.

“In general terms, people present with a wide range of needs and various levels of acuity. People that present to ED are assessed by a nurse on arrival and prioritised for treatment based on their assessed level of clinical need. Patients assessed as not having an urgent need may wait longer to see a clinician, but continue to receive treatment – such as pain relief and X-ray – while they wait.

“Again, we extend our deepest sympathies to the family. We invite them to meet with us to discuss and understand any concerns they have around the clinical care delivered.”