There is another child death for 2011, I believe that makes 4 so far. Miciah Bonzani from outside Pittsburgh died May 5, 2011. Story plus video at the link below.New Kensington Teenager Dies Unexpectedly - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh
I will be updating when I can dig up more details.
Prayers to her and her family.
God help us!
WPIX Story:
Posted: 9:03 pm EDT May 6, 2011Updated: 5:15 pm EDT May 7, 2011Valley News Dispatch Story:
NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. -- A trip for dental work ended with the death of a New Kensington teenager.
Miciah Bonzani, 16, of New Kensington died Thursday following an outpatient medical procedure earlier this week, officials said.
Channel 11 spoke with Bonzani’s family and friends.
Bonzani had two heart surgeries as a child, Bonzani's aunt said.
She went in for dental work and at some point she stopped breathing and her heart stopped. She was taken to the hospital where she later died, officials said.
Miciah Bonzani is from a large family. She is one of 10 kids. They are leaning onto one another for support.
“She was our miracle baby. She was born with a heart defect,” her aunt, Felicia Schrock, said.
“There are so many people she touched and is still touching,” her brother, Ricky Libengoob, said. “She wanted to be in the Navy.”
The Valley High School student was a sophomore in the Junior ROTC program.
Her friends plan to give her family a plaque they put together.
Her JROTC instructor said she visited veterans and was a wonderful student with a great personality.
“She always made people happy. We had a trip coming up. It is not going to be the same without her,” Chris Washlaski said.
Her family has donated her kidneys, saying that is what she would have wanted.
The JROTC boosters of Valley High and Bonzani's family are working together on a military scholarship in her memory.
Vice Principal Jeff Thimons said counselors were at the school Friday.
An autopsy will be performed Saturday to determine how Miciah Bonzani died.
Family, friends mourn death of New Kensington girl, 16
By Chuck Biedka
VALLEY NEWS DISPATCH
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Plans are being made to establish a military scholarship to honor a 16-year-old Valley High School junior ROTC student who died Thursday night after she suffered cardiac arrest during dental surgery on Tuesday, her mother said.
Miciah Bonzani, a sophomore from Seventh Street Road, New Kensington, died in Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Although born with a heart malformation that required two surgeries before her first birthday, Miciah led an active life, said her mother, Melody Lattanzie.
"She did everything in a hurry," Lattanzie said. "And she really enjoyed JROTC."
About 70 members of the Valley High School JROTC program were given a pass to meet with counselors and JROTC's Maj. John Skovran rather than attend regular classes Friday, said JROTC instructor Sgt. 1st Class Joe Risher.
He said the students are in shock.
"There is a lot of hugging, crying and reflection," the retired soldier said. "This happened so fast."
Valley High School Vice Principal Jeff Thimons said counselors were at the school when students arrived on Friday.
"She was a very nice young lady," Thimons said, "popular, energetic and happy."
Miciah's mother said he daughter had gone to the dentist early Tuesday, where she was anesthetized to have a wisdom tooth removed. She suffered cardiac arrest during the procedure and was taken to Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison.
She later was transferred to Children's Hospital where she was on life support, her family said.
Friends and family prayed for Miciah at her church in Allegheny Township and at a candlelight vigil Thursday night at Valley High School.
The Allegheny County Medical Examiner said Miciah died in the hospital about 11:30 p.m. Thursday.
The cause and manner of her death were undetermined yesterday, and an autopsy was scheduled for today, the office said.
Lattanzie said Miciah's kidneys were donated, in keeping with the way her daughter lived to help others.
Friends and family said Miciah was friendly and outgoing. She cared more about others than herself.
"She wanted to join the Army, and she looked up to her older brother," Lattanzie said.
Oldest brother Ricky Libengood, 31, is a staff sergeant in the Air Force Reserve and is scheduled to be deployed to Afghanistan.
Lattanzie said Miciah knew heartbreak. Her classmates Kharheem Hutchinson, 15, of Woodmont Avenue, New Kensington, died in a December house fire and Joshua Gibson, 14, of Pershing Street, New Kensington, died in a traffic accident in August in Erie.
"The two who died were among those who came to parties at our house," Lattanzie said. "Now she is with the other two angels looking down at us."
Miciah was the seventh of Lattanzie nine children — six girls and three boys.
"She lived her faith and she loved to make people feel good," Lattanzie said. "She was compassionate beyond her years."
In Facebook entries, friend Amelia Moore said the death is heartbreaking, "but how incredible that she will save another life," referring to her organ donations.
Miciah's uncle, Brad McIlwain, wrote that he was amazed by the many lives Miciah touched.
"... God heard all of your prayers over the last couple of days, but sometimes He answers with a NO! He has a plan for all of us and His will for Miciah was different than what we wanted and that's OK."
The Joseph Cardaro Funeral Home, New Kensington, is handling arrangements, which had not been finalized Friday afternoon.
The family is setting up the Miciah S. Bonzani Military Scholarship through Valley High School's JROTC program.
Staff writer Brian C. Rittmeyer contributed to this report.
