6-year-old with cancer dies from fungal infection

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) – Doctors are warning about an increasing number of deadly fungal infections as the temperatures across the country rise.

Alyssa Aguilar said her 6-year-old daughter, Lola, was very sassy and determined. The little girl was battling leukemia but recently died from a fungal infection.

Lola was a happy and healthy kindergartener who loved to play with her little sister, Phoebe, but her parents said everything changed on Halloween.

“We were heading out the door to go trick-or-treating and she collapsed,” her dad Drew Zimmer said.

That’s when the family learned Lola had leukemia and was immediately flown to Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

“It was admirable as strong as my daughter was,” Zimmer said.

“She was our inspiration. She really was,” Aguilar said.

After months of grueling treatments and hospital admissions, there was light at the end of the tunnel. Two weeks ago, Lola finished up the second phase of chemotherapy.

“All the doctors and us too were very hopeful and optimistic that she would have reached remission,” Zimmer, but the family never found out if Lola was cancer-free.

The day after the final round of chemo, Lola went back to the hospital with a fever from a fungal infection.

Zimmer said her heart stopped within 24 hours and she couldn’t breathe on her own.

“Seeing your daughter on life support unresponsive is really hard and then having the doctors tell you that the fungal infection she has is untreatable and having to say goodbye, it’s traumatic,” he said.

Aguilar said the chemo destroyed Lola’s immune system, and she died one week ago.

“I get frustrated and angry that she could have beat cancer, but she couldn’t have beat a fungal infection,” Aguilar said.

As they process the loss, Zimmer and Aguilar find new meaning in butterflies and cherries. Both became symbols of hope connected to Lola and now embody the fragility of life.

“Cherish every moment and tell people you love them,” Zimmer said.

“Tell your children you love them and kiss them goodnight,” Aguilar added.

These parents want others to take away from their story that if their child is immunocompromised, fungal infections can be deadly. Fungus is often airborne, especially with all the dust in the air.

They also said you must trust your intuition and always advocate for your child’s health if something doesn’t feel right.