Heartbroken Melbourne mum Monica Djuric prepares for baby Levi’s funeral after shocking diagnosis

An unexpected diagnosis for her 20-month-old baby has left a devastated Melbourne mother planning his funeral while he is still breathing.

Online fundraiser organised for 20-month-old Levi, who has been left with irreversible brain damage after the negligence of a hospital. Photo: Supplied

An unexpected diagnosis for her 20-month-old baby has left a devastated Melbourne mother planning his funeral while he is still breathing.

Baby Levi was rushed to a hospital after mum Monica Djuric noticed he was running a high fever, vomiting and feeling lethargic.

Despite her hopes of finding answers, the hospital instructed Ms Djuric to return in two days.

However, Levi’s health declined rapidly that night, and he was taken to a different hospital.

There, the 20-month-old became unresponsive and was put in an induced coma and life support.

20-month-old Levi was sent home from the hospital after minimal testing. Picture: Supplied

After running more tests, Ms Djuric was told Levi had contracted streptococcus pneumonia — a bacterial infection which infected Levi’s brain, causing it to swell.

Ms Djuric said she couldn’t understand how her “happiest little boy” ended up in such a condition.

“I feel robbed. We all feel robbed,” she said.

“In the scan, his brain looks like a doughnut. That’s the only way I can describe it; the damage is deep within the brain.

“I’m so numb. He was absolutely perfect, he really was everything I needed. He was starting to develop his character.”

Levi contracted Streptococcus Pneumonia, a bacterial infection which infected his brain, causing him to have encephalitis meningitis which is swelling of the brain. Picture: Supplied

Ms Djuric said she was now left with the unfathomable task of planning a funeral for her son.

“It’s an extremely weird time; I’m sitting here trying to plan a funeral, but yet I am looking at my son breathing.”

Ms Djuric said the severity of the infection had left Levi with irreversible brain damage.

“We’re the ones that have to pull the plug. We have to make that call mentally, and that’s absolutely impossible to make as a parent,” she said.

Levi has been in a minimally conscious state since the August last year. Picture: Supplied

“It goes against everything you’re born to do — especially as a mother. It’s absolutely unheard of.”

An online fundraiser has raised more than $44,000 to help ease the family’s financial burden as they spend Levi’s last days with him.

Mum Monica and Ricky are racing against time to spend quality time together as a family. Picture: Supplied

Ms Djuric said the fundraiser had helped the family to switch off from work and spend time with Levi.

“The GoFundMe has absolutely taken that edge and pressure off us mentally. The relief it’s brought and the fact that Levi’s dad can switch off from providing and spend the last days means everything,” she said.

“We are battling against time to spend time with him, but in order to spend time with him, we need to have a backup financially.”