Mya Louise Mar Heijckmann

Mya was always a cheerful, sweet and lively little girl. First thing in the morning, she’d be chatting away happily – the sign that the day can begin. First, a cuddle with Mummy and Daddy in bed, then playtime – her most favourite thing.

Mya was only 9 months old. On 1 September 2023, she passed away from meningitis. Her mum, Mabel, tells us what happened.

On August 20, 2023, Mya had spent the night at her grandparents’ house for the first time. We picked her up early the next morning, as we couldn’t bear to be without her for so long. That afternoon, she had another breath-holding spell, something we’d experienced before. Afterwards, she was very tired. In the days that followed, we noticed that her behaviour was changing.

She stayed out of spirits, had regular fevers, and slept a lot. At the daycare centre and when she was with her grandparents, it was clear she wasn’t feeling well. The GP advised us to wait and see, and thought it might be a bladder infection, amongst other things. Because Mya responded well to paracetamol, it sometimes seemed as though she was getting better, but the symptoms kept coming back.

Over the weekend of 26 and 27 August, her fever continued. She wasn’t eating well and vomited for the first time. We went to the after-hours medical clinic, but they also couldn’t find a clear cause. The advice remained to keep a close eye on her.

On Tuesday 29 August, I was very worried. Mya had once again high fever and had now been ill for more than a week. The GP gave us antibiotics, but first we had to collect a urine sample to rule out a bladder infection. We couldn’t manage that, because she was barely drinking and wasn’t peeing.

That afternoon, her condition suddenly worsened. She became increasingly ill and was vomiting a lot. When we looked for help again, the GP immediately saw that it was serious. Mya was rushed to hospital and admitted to the paediatric department.

As her parents, we felt really helpless. Despite all the tests, Mya was getting sicker and sicker. That night, she had epileptic seizures. Eventually, it was decided to transfer her to Radboudumc. However, the transfer came too late. By the time she arrived at the paediatric intensive care unit, Mya was already in a critical condition.

We are immensely grateful to Radboudumc for everything they have done for our little girl. Unfortunately, the doctors were unable to save her from the cruel disease that is pneumococcal meningitis. An MRI scan showed that her brain had suffered irreversible damage.

On 1st September 2023 at 3.13 pm, our beautiful, cheerful Mya passed away in our arms.

Following the death of our daughter Mya Louise Mar Heijckmann, we soon felt the need to do something. Something for our wonderful daughter, but also something for other children. Mya was a social girl who loved playing with other children and was always looking to connect with others.

It is from this thought that the idea for MYAngel was born. Based on Mya’s physical features, we asked someone to design a soft toy so that her love, warmth and cheerfulness could continue to live forever in a special way. MYAngel is Mya as a guardian angel for children: sweet, joyful, social and comforting. Just as she was.

Through MYAngel, we aim not only to keep Mya’s memory alive, but also to contribute to a future in which fewer children and families will be affected by meningitis. This disease can affect anyone. That is why we believe it is important that continuous research is conducted to prevent, recognise and treat it.

Support ItsME – order a cuddly toy
All profits from the sale of MYAngel will be donated to the ItsME Foundation. In this way, as parents, we hope – on behalf of Mya – to contribute to more research, greater awareness and, ultimately, less grief for other families.

On our website you can read more about our own personal involvement with the ItsME Foundation, the significance behind the MyAngel soft toy, the support it provides, and how you can order one.