It was supposed to be a normal day for the family of five-year-old twins Olivia Rodriguez and Noah Rodriguez. They had just celebrated their birthday on Saturday, December 16, 2023, with cake, balloons, and presents. They were looking forward to spending the holidays with their parents, grandparents, and older sister.
But on Sunday morning, everything changed. The twins started to vomit violently, and their parents rushed them to the hospital. There, the doctors tried to save them, but it was too late. Olivia Rodriguez and Noah Rodriguez died within hours of each other, leaving behind a devastated family and a baffled medical community.
What caused the sudden and tragic deaths of these innocent children? Was it a rare disease, a genetic disorder, or something else? And could it have been prevented?
These are the questions that haunt the Rodriguez family, the Bronx neighborhood where they live, and the public health officials who are investigating the case.
A rare and puzzling case of fatal vomiting
According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the twins had no known pre-existing medical conditions, no history of travel, and no exposure to any toxic substances. They also tested negative for COVID-19, influenza, and other common viruses.
The only clue that the doctors have is that the twins had elevated levels of ammonia in their blood, which can cause brain damage and death. Ammonia is a waste product that is normally filtered out by the liver, but in some cases, it can build up in the body due to various causes, such as liver failure, genetic defects, or infections.
However, none of these causes seem to apply to the twins, who had normal liver function and no signs of infection. Moreover, the twins had no symptoms of ammonia toxicity, such as confusion, lethargy, or seizures, until they started to vomit.
Dr. David Hirschwerk, an infectious disease specialist at Northwell Health, said that the case is “very unusual and very puzzling”.
“I’ve never seen anything like this in my career,” he said. “It’s very rare to have fatal vomiting in children, and even rarer to have it in twins. There must be something very specific that triggered this in them, but we don’t know what it is yet.”
Dr. Hirschwerk said that the doctors are still waiting for the results of more tests, such as genetic analysis, toxicology, and autopsy, to determine the exact cause of death. He said that it could take weeks or months to get the answers.
A community in shock and grief
Meanwhile, the Rodriguez family and their neighbors are struggling to cope with the loss of the twins, who were described as “happy, playful, and smart” by their loved ones.
“They were the sweetest kids you could ever meet,” said Maria Rodriguez, the twins’ grandmother, who lived with them in their apartment on East 183rd Street. “They loved to sing, dance, draw, and play with their sister. They were always smiling and laughing. They were our angels.”
Maria said that the twins had a normal and healthy childhood, and that they had no problems at school or at home. She said that they had a regular check-up a month ago, and that everything was fine.
“They were perfect,” she said. “They had everything to live for. We don’t understand why this happened to them. We don’t know how to go on without them.”
The twins’ parents, Jose and Ana Rodriguez, are too distraught to speak to the media, but they have released a statement through their lawyer, thanking the public for their support and asking for privacy.
“We are heartbroken and devastated by the loss of our beloved children, Olivia Rodriguez and Noah Rodriguez,” the statement read. “They were our joy and our pride, and we will always cherish the memories we had with them. We appreciate the outpouring of love and sympathy from our family, friends, neighbors, and strangers. We ask that you respect our grief and let us mourn in peace.”
The twins’ older sister, Sofia, 8, is also grieving, but she is trying to be strong for her parents, Maria said.
“She misses them so much, but she doesn’t want to cry in front of them,” Maria said. “She says that she wants to be brave for them and that she wants to make them happy. She’s such a good girl, but she’s hurting too.”
The twins’ school, P.S. 33, has also expressed its condolences and offered counseling services to the students and staff who knew them.
“They were bright and beautiful children who brought joy to everyone who met them,” said Principal Lisa Johnson in a letter to the parents. “They were always eager to learn and participate in class activities. They had many friends and were kind and respectful to everyone. They will be deeply missed by our school community.”
The Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz Jr., has also issued a statement, calling the twins’ deaths “a terrible tragedy that has shaken our borough to its core”.
“My heart goes out to the Rodriguez family and their loved ones, who are going through an unimaginable pain and sorrow,” he said. “I urge everyone to keep them in your thoughts and prayers, and to offer them any help and support that you can. I also commend the doctors and nurses who tried to save the twins, and the public health officials who are working hard to find out what happened. I hope that they will soon get to the bottom of this mystery, and that we will learn how to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.”
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