'We weren't heard:' Northern Manitoba mom claims health-care negligence after daughter’s near-death experience

A mother from Mathias Colomb Cree Nation in Northern Manitoba is sharing her and her family’s experience at the isolated community’s nursing station, claiming their concerns about their daughter’s breathing were not listened to until the situation became critical.

A mother from Mathias Colomb Cree Nation in Northern Manitoba is sharing her and her family’s experience at the isolated community’s nursing station, claiming their concerns about their daughter’s breathing were not listened to until the situation became critical.

Akita Colomb said her then 7-month-old daughter, Lucillia Francois, started having laboured breathing on August 29th.

The 24-year-old mother of three told CTV News over eight days the family went back and forth to the nursing station several times.

"Eight exhausting, long days and nights in and out of that nursing station, 2-3 times a day,” she said. “We weren't heard."

Colomb said each time the baby was looked at, but when her vitals stabilized, the family was sent home only to have to come back a few hours later when her breathing became distressed again.

In the early morning of September 6th Colomb said Lucillia’s condition had worsened to the point where she was gasping for air.

"She was on the verge of actually passing out from the lack of oxygen she was getting," she said.