Jocelyn Ann Hampel, 7, died days after visiting a Cedarburg dentist
A Wisconsin girl has died after having a tooth extracted while under anesthesia at the dentist office.
Jocelyn Ann Hampel, 7, died days after visiting a Cedarburg dentist for a tooth removal on January 8, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
Her heart stopped halfway through the procedure while she was sedated and the dentist office performed CPR, the outlet reported.
'They were able to regain a pulse enough to transport her to Aurora [Medical Center] in Grafton,' said Brian Gould, her uncle and godfather.
The Jackson Elementary first-grader lived the final days of her short life in a medically induced coma before she was taken off life support on January 14 when tests indicated a lack of brain activity.
Jocelyn's family, pictured, said she was nonverbal but loved to dance and twirl in circles
Dad Luke Hampel posted a photo after Jocelyn's death showing his hand holding hers
Gould told the outlet that the medical examiner's office would perform an autopsy to figure out what happened to the young girl.
Parents Luke and Ashley Hampel have mourned the loss of their daughter in posts to social media.
'It's been a week since we last kissed you, held you in our arms, snuggled with you in your hospital bed and ran our hands through your curly hair,' Ashley Hampel wrote on Facebook.
'It seems like just yesterday but at the same time even longer because these days are next to impossible to get through.
An obituary for Jocelyn she will be remembered as the 'cherished sister of Tenley and Hendrix'
Mom Ashley Hampel posted a moving tribute a week after the tragic death of her daughter
Jocelyn suffered from Cohen syndrome, a rare disorder
'You were just an innocent 7 year old little girl in the dentist chair, we were supposed to go home, cuddle and spoil you and you'd be back to yourself by the next day. You didn't deserve this, you had so much joy and life left to live.'
Luke Hampel posted a picture of his hand holding hers on Instagram, with the caption: 'There are no words... rest easy my baby. Until we meet again.'
He later posted another which shows a pile of Fruit Loops sitting on a table.
'Your favorite snack will always be where you remember it,' he said.
According to a study in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 'death was the most important side effect of anesthesia in dentistry.'
The study, which examined deaths associated with dental procedures from 1955 to 2012, found that there were 218 deaths out of 71,435,282 dental patients for a mortality rate of one in every 327,684 patients.
'In 1970s and 1980s, numerous deaths among healthy children undergoing simple dental procedures under general anesthesia were documented,' the study reads.
Jocelyn, pictured with her mom, suffered from Cohen syndrome, a rare congenital disorder
Jocelyn, bottom left, enjoyed glitter and shiny things, according to her obituary
The study recommended that only pediatric anesthetists should administer general anesthesia to young children.
'Mentally compromised patients are unlikely to allow safe completion of treatment under local anesthesia because of problems related to physical/mental disability; therefore they might need general anesthesia,' the study reads.
Another study, published in the journal Pediatric Anesthesia, evaluated 44 deaths among children aged 2 to 5 during dental anesthesia and found only three patients were reported to have pre-existing medical conditions that placed them at increased risk for anesthesia-related complications.
Family members said that Jocelyn had Cohen syndrome, a rare congenital developmental disorder first described in 1973.
Cohen syndrome symptoms can vary greatly from person to person but generally include low muscle tone, developmental disabilities
'She could walk, and she could play. She showed emotions, and she learned new things constantly, but she was nonverbal. She's never been able to talk,' Gould told the Journal Sentinel.
Cohen syndrome symptoms can vary greatly from person to person but generally include low muscle tone, developmental disabilities, a smaller than normal-sized head and near-sightedness, according to the National Institute of Health.
There is no cure for the disorder but physical, occupational and speech therapy can address the symptoms.
'She never knew she was dealt a short hand,' Gould said. 'She was always smiling and laughing and playing.'
Grandfather Jeff Gould said Jocelyn loved her short life and family vacations to Mexico and Disney.
'She loved to dance and twirl in circles. She loved pretty lights, sparkle and glitter; everything little girls love,' he told the Journal Sentinel.
'But her passion was swimming. She would try and find the biggest wave she could find and let it crash into her. She was our joy, our sweet little princess and her grandma and grandpa loved her more than anyone can imagine.'
Jocelyn's obituary said she will be remembered as the 'cherished sister of Tenley and Hendrix.'
'[She] had some hurdles put in her path right from the start but with her courage, bravery and determination, cleared them all. This little girl learned how to bring so much joy and happiness through her smiles and giggles to all of us that really got to know and love her,' the obituary reads.
'Whether she was navigating through her iPad just to find the right silly video she wanted or posing for pictures with Tenley and Hendrix, our love for her grew more and more. Whether she was shopping with mom or dad, or swimming in grandma and grandpas pool, we loved her somehow even more.'
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