By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-04-02 13:40:03 | Updated at 2025-04-03 11:47:30
22 hours ago
The five-year-old daughter of a Georgia state trooper who was set to start kindergarten this year has died of an 'unexpected medical illness,' according to the state's Police Benevolent Association.
Sergeant Royce Zah and his wife Brittany said goodbye to their daughter, Navi, on March 28 after she spent days fighting for her life in the hospital.
Navi died at the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta surrounded by her family, according to the police benefit organization.
'Sgt. Zah is a respected member of the Patrol and a 13-year veteran. His family has always stood as a pillar of strength and service to others. Now, they are facing a loss no parent should ever endure,' the organization wrote.
The Police Benevolent Foundation has begun a donation fund for the Zah, his wife and their two surviving daughters.
Another fundraiser started on behalf of the family has already raised more than $25,000 toward its $30,000 goal. Those who want to donate also have the option to provide a meal or groceries.
Brittany made her first post on Facebook about Navi's sudden illness on March 25. Five days later, she shared the awful news.
'This is the hardest thing we’ve ever had to say or do but our beautiful, precious, purist baby girl Navi was given her wings and went home with Jesus on Friday, March 28 at 7:04 pm,' the grieving mother wrote on March 30.
Sergeant Royce Zah is pictured with his five-year-old daughter Navi, who died in the hospital last week from a sudden illness
Navi is survived by her two older sisters, her father and her mother, Brittany
Brittany (pictured next to her Sergeant Zah) said doctors believed Navi developed sepsis, a serious, life-threatening condition for children especially
'Thank you for all the love and support, it means the world to us and would love for everyone to join us for her celebration of life once we figure it out. Love you all,' she concluded.
Brittany said that following a CT scan, doctors told her Navi's white blood cell count was elevated, which led them to believe she was suffering from sepsis.
After this, Navi was transported to Arthur M. Blank Hospital, a new 19-story medical facility in northeast Atlanta.
Specifically, she was transported to the cardiac intensive care unit because doctors were worried about her heart function.
On March 28 at 11:28am, less than eight hours before Navi would pass away, Brittany wrote: 'We need a miracle today. Our girl is fighting hard and we we need a miracle.'
Sepsis kills roughly 7,000 children a year in the United States, according to the Children's Hospital Association. And as many as 75,000 children are hospitalized for the condition annually.
'Sepsis is the immune system overreacting to an infection of any kind. It can spread rapidly in children’s small bodies,' according to the association. 'Children with compromised immune systems, like hematology and oncology patients, are particularly susceptible to sepsis.'
The window for diagnosing sepsis in children is incredibly short, only one to four hours, which makes it crucial that it is spotted early.
