2-year-old died after dental surgery anesthesia, lung collapse in Greensboro

A Salisbury family is going through unimaginable heartbreak after a toddler died following complications at an oral surgery center in Greensboro. Er’Mias Mitchell, 2, was there with his mom and dad for cavity surgery. The family told WXII he was the answer to their prayers and a miracle baby. David Mitchell, Er’Mias’ father, said the boy was their first son and only child. He was a happy and healthy toddler, the family said, who was taken from them far too soon. He loved T-rexes and dinosaurs, and they planned to watch “Jurassic World” at the movie theater this weekend. Around 7 a.m. Thursday morning, the boy’s parents took him to Valleygate Dental Surgery Center in Greensboro for a procedure, but something went wrong. The family said the surgery involved anesthesia, and they were only told about their son’s complications when an ambulance arrived.”He was all good this morning, nothing was wrong,” said David Mitchell, the father He said his son was very healthy and in good spirits.”They checked his heart, checked his weight, and checked everything. It was all good until they took him back there,” Mitchell said. The parents said nurses told them that the boy’s lung collapsed when he was already on his way to the hospital without them.“We was like, so where’s our son?” Mitchell said. “He was already gone in the ambulance and we was like, why don’t you tell us?” Now, they’re demanding answers about how this tragedy happened. They said they were not informed about what was happening to their son. Mitchell wants his son back. “Er’Mias was the best child on this planet, for real,” he said. Mitchell said the boy’s mother loved 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,” Mitchell said. “Now, I got so many questions that’s unanswered.” Kyra Smith, the toddler’s grandmother, said she’s heartbroken and doesn’t want any other family to endure this pain. “Never would I have thought that I only have two years with my baby,” Smith said. “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.” The family is urging other parents to ask questions and be aware of what happens during medical procedures. We’ve reached out to the Valleygate Dental Surgery Center for a statement about this incident and are still waiting to hear back. The Greensboro Police Department said this is an ongoing investigation. If you’d like to help Er’Mias’ family during this time, you can donate here.The North Carolina Dental Board sent WXII this statement regarding the incident:”First, the Dental Board joins with all who mourn the death of Er’Mias Mitchell and, though strangers to his family, we are deeply saddened by this tragic news. Second, the public can have confidence that the Dental Board will fully investigate the circumstances surrounding his death. At the moment, we ask you and your viewers to consider that this incident did not occur in a dental office. It appears that Valleygate Dental Surgery Center is an independently accredited surgery center utilizing the services of both medical and dental professionals and is not licensed, certified, or accredited by the NC Dental Board. Early indications are that the Dental Board’s investigation will focus on whether this death occurred as a result of sedation administered by a medical provider (over which the Dental Board has no jurisdiction) or was the result of improper dental treatment which, of course, is within our jurisdiction.”

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