A Salisbury family is seeking explanations after their toddler, Er’mias Mitchell, passed away at a Greensboro oral surgery facility due to complications. According to his father, David Mitchell, his healthy two-year-old son was prepared for surgery on the morning of July 17 in order to have some caps placed on his teeth due to tooth decay.
However, something went wrong after getting anesthesia at Valleygate Dental Surgery Center.
“He was all good this morning; nothing was wrong,” Mitchell told WRAL. “They checked his heartbeat, checked his weight, and checked everything. It was all good until they took him back in the room.”
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The toddler’s parents said nurses told them his lungs had collapsed shortly after 7 a.m. They then learned that their son had been transported to a hospital 30 minutes away, but they were not with him. According to Mitchell, they were in the waiting area yet the surgery center failed to alert them to the problem.
“We waited like 40 minutes or close to an hour. It was a long time. She heard the ambulance outside, but she walked outside and didn’t see anything,” Mitchell told Spectrum News.
According to the family, they were not allowed to accompany him in the ambulance.
“Our son, a 2-year-old boy, had to ride with a stranger,” Mitchell said. “His family couldn’t even be by his side when he needed us there.”
Although Er’mias was given CPR, he had already passed away before the Mitchell family arrived at the hospital.
“We was like, ‘So where’s our son?’” Mitchell told WRAL. “He was already gone in the ambulance, and we was like, ‘Why didn’t y’all tell us?'”
Mitchell explained that everyone adored Er’Mias, his only child. He said the boy’s mother adored him more than life itself.
“This being her miracle baby, just, it’s like a life is stolen from her, and we don’t know what to do,” said Mitchell.
“He always loved to play around. He loved T-Rexs,” the grieving father added. “He even went to his dental surgery center with his T-Rex as well.”
Er’Mias’ grandma, Kyra Smith, added that she does not want any other family to go through this ordeal.
“There’s no coming back from this,” Smith said. “Never would I have thought that I’d only have two years with my baby. It’s traumatizing, so I just want families to be aware. I want to bring awareness. I don’t want to let his name go in vain. I want them to say his name – Er’Mias Lewis Mitchell.”
Meanwhile, the Valleygate Dental Surgery Center has issued a statement in response to the situation. It emphasized that while complications are relatively rare, they can emerge unexpectedly, even under well monitored conditions.
According to the surgery center, over 13,000 patients have safely received care there since 2019.
“Our thoughts are with their family and loved ones during this unimaginably difficult time,” the statement continued. “The health and well-being of every patient is our highest priority. Our staff includes an array of highly experienced and board-certified physician anesthesiologists, certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), and nurses. Our professionals are dedicated to providing a caring, nurturing environment where comfort, dental health, and safety are of primary importance.”
The Valleygate Dental Surgery Center stated that it is working with all pertinent agencies to conduct an active review of the incident. “While we cannot comment on specifics at this time, we will provide updates as appropriate, and in a manner respectful to the privacy of our patient’s family,” it said.
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