Child actor, 11, dies after suffering multiple heart attacks as family accuse doctors of misdiagnosing symptoms
Topics: Celebrity, Film and TV, Netflix
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: millenamboficial/Instagram
Topics: Celebrity, Film and TV, Netflix
Popular child actor Millena Brandão has died at the age of 11 after suffering multiple heart attacks, according to her devastated family.
The Brazilian actor made a name for herself on the Netflix series Sintonia, a Portuguese-language drama much loved in that part of the world.
In an Instagram post shared on Sunday (May 4), Brandão's family announced the child star died on May 2, aged just 11.
"Open letter to my little girl. On 02.05 we lost our baby girl, but I'm sure she's in the arms of our Almighty Father and in a beautiful place to play.
Advert
"The memories we spent together will remain in my memory and I will never forget your joy that spreads to everyone around you. My girl, I miss you not having you here and I know I will miss you even more in the days to come!"
The statement continued: "You were a light in our life and I know that from above you will continue to look over us and light up our lives.
"And I will love you forever, and you will always be in my heart.
"I love youuu bby girl!! ️
"27.12.2013 [to] 02.05.2025."
Thays Brandão, the child star's mother, has been speaking to the press following her daughter's passing - where she gave a detailed account of the symptoms her young daughter experienced.
"She got worse, with two to three cardiac arrests per day. She had 13 arrests in total,” Thays told G1.
"She had never had that before. There was one day when she had seven respiratory arrests. Sometimes they gave her massages and other times they gave her shocks [with a device called a defibrillator]."
Doctors initially diagnosed her with dengue fever, but later tests suggested Brandão had a urinary tract infection and was ultimately send home with antibiotics.
The child star soon after suffered a cardiac arrest before being transferred from UPA Maria Antonieta to Granjaú General Hospital.
"There was no neurologist there. They only did a CT scan, and the doctors said they saw a 5-centimeter mass in her brain," Thays added to local media.
"But they don’t know if this mass was a tumor, a cyst, an edema, a clot... because they couldn’t open her head to see. And now that she died, they’re going to do a biopsy to find out what was in her brain."
No cause of death has been detailed.
The General Hospital of Pedreira and UPA Maria Antonieta has expressed their 'regret' over Brandão's death.
Meanwhile, Grajaú General Hospital said in a statement: "The diagnosis was confirmed after strict compliance with the protocol established for these cases.
"The family was present at each stage of the care, being kept informed with respect, acceptance and all the support necessary in this moment of deep pain.
"We stand in solidarity with the family and reaffirm our commitment to providing dignified and humane care."