Harlingen 8-Year-Old Melody Dies After Brain Tumor Fight, Pneumonia and Sepsis

Melody, an 8-year-old girl from Harlingen, Texas, died at 1:58 p.m. today, her mother, Crista, said — hours after asking the public to pray when her daughter coded while being treated for pneumonia and sepsis.

Doctors had resuscitated Melody after she coded. Crista said they still did not know whether she would pull through. After her death, Crista asked for one last prayer: “Please pray she has a peaceful trip to heaven.”

According to her mother, Melody’s illness came to light after headaches and blurry vision. Doctors found a tumor deep in the center of her brain. She was airlifted to Driscoll Children’s Hospital and underwent brain surgery in February. Crista said Melody later lived with a permanent shunt, infections, memory problems, hallucinations and repeated hospital stays. She spent her eighth birthday in the hospital.

Chemotherapy began about a month ago, her mother said. Pneumonia then led to sepsis. Her condition worsened quickly. She coded, was brought back, and died the same day.

Crista called Melody her best friend: “I want her to know mom loves her more than words could ever express. I’ll miss you forever and one day we’ll be together again, my pretty girl.”

She also spoke to other parents of children with cancer: “Stay strong. Everything will be okay in the end. God will take care of everything always no matter what.”

Source: Family update from Crista of Harlingen, Texas, reporting Melody’s death at 1:58 p.m. after treatment at Driscoll Children’s Hospital for a central brain tumor, later pneumonia and sepsis. An independent news confirmation of this specific death was not located at the time of writing.