Advertisement ‘Completely treatable’: Police say 14-year-old girl died after mom concealed her diabetes Share Shares Copy Link Copy

An Illinois mother who concealed her daughter's diagnosis from family and doctors has been charged in the teenage girl’s death, authorities said.The St. Louis Dispatch reports the child, Emily Hampshire, 14, died of diabetes-related illness in November at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.Her mother, Amber L. Hampshire, 39, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and endangering the life or health of a child. Prosecutors said they do not yet know a motive.“It’s so unusual and sad and a completely preventable death,” Madison County State’s Attorney Thomas D. Gibbons said Thursday. “There were plenty of doctors along the way providing information on what to do with a treatable, manageable illness that many people live out their lives with.”According to The Alton Telegraph, Gibbons called the case “heartbreaking,” noting that the disease was “completely treatable.”Authorities said Hampshire concealed her daughter's diabetes, failing to provide the girl with medical treatment and keeping the diagnosis from family members. Gibbons said even Emily's father was unaware of the illness until his daughter was hospitalized last month.Emergency responders were called to the Hampshire home on Nov. 1 where Emily was discovered unresponsive and not breathing. She was rushed to the hospital, where she died of diabetic ketoacidosis, a buildup of acids in the blood when blood sugar is too high for too long.Hampshire told doctors that Emily had been hospitalized within the past year for pneumonia. She said the girl had high sugars at the time, but claimed that insulin was not needed or prescribed. She refused to authorize the release of medical records. The hospital staff was able to eventually obtain the records, which showed Emily and her mother had first been told the girl had diabetes in 2013. Despite being educated on diabetes, insulin and dietary needs, the girl's mother failed to bring her to follow-up appointments and never filled the insulin prescription. Emily's school was notified of the diagnosis and given a medical plan, but her mother told officials that the diagnosis was wrong and the plan could be disregarded. Investigators discovered unused diabetes medication and instruments to monitor and test sugar levels at the Hampshire home. At the time of Emily’s death, a social worker documented that medical neglect could have played a part in her death.“We can’t fathom in our hearts or our minds why a parent would commit this kind of act to put their child in such great danger, when treatment and support were readily available,” Gibbons said. “The investigation indicates very strongly that the defendant took repeated, substantial steps to conceal the disease from everyone around her.”An obituary for Emily says she "spent the 14 years of her life making everyone around her smile.""She was a bright student, always reading and writing, ready to learn more. Emily was a graceful dancer, cheerleader, and liked to play volleyball. She also loved to sing and act. Emily will be missed by many, but most of all by her mom and dad," the obituary continues. An online fundraiser for the family has raised more than $16,000.Hampshire's bail was set at $100,000. If convicted, the penalty for the manslaughter is three to 14 years in prison. The endangering charge carries a penalty of two to 10 years.