Read the full article on KETV 7
Two years ago, an 8-year-old Reese Bryan died after suffering a massive brain bleed. Now her family is suing a local cheer gym and Children’s Physicians.At the time, the family said, doctors did not know what caused it. Later, according to the lawsuit, her parents were told Reese had an undiagnosed brain tumor. Now, the Bryan’s are claiming negligence against Elite Cheer and medical negligence against Children’s Physicians. Tracy and Amanda Bryan said they knew their daughter was set to accomplish big dreams. “She really was extraordinary,” Amanda said. “She was an all-star cheerleader and really good for her age of eight, not only that, but as a softball player too,” Tracy said. It wasn’t just her athletic talent that set her apart, it was her bright spirit and her kind heart they remember most. “Her energy was so contagious,” Tracy said. “Everyone said that she was their best friend,” Amanda said. Reese died at just 8-years-old on Feb. 23, 2024. “She was our heartbeat,” Tracy said through tears. Eight months later, the Bryans learned more about what led to her death. “It was finally in October when we got her autopsy results back,” Amanda said. “She had a small brain tumor and it was bleeding and it was cancerous, but it was very, the type of cancer it was and the grade of it was really, really low.””There’s not a day I don’t think about her,” Tracy said. “I wish she was still with us because she should be.”In Jan. of this year, the Bryans filed a lawsuit against Elite Cheer, its co-owner Lance Stoltenberg and Reese’s coach, Vanessa Dayne Hooker. Also named are Reese’s pediatrician, Dr. Lars Vanderbur and Children’s Physicians. They’re claiming negligence and medical negligence. “We want truth and we want answers,” Amanda said. About a month before she died, Amanda said Reese began experiencing strange symptoms.”She came home from school and was telling me she was dizzy and just typical mom answer, like are you hungry? Did you eat a snack? And as time went on, a couple of days, it wasn’t getting any better,” Amanda said. By the weekend, Amanda said Reese told her she felt okay enough to travel with her cheer team to Kansas City. It was there the Bryans said that Reese collapsed. “She couldn’t stand. She couldn’t walk, so they texted me to come back there and I did. The paramedics looked at her and her eyes weren’t tracking, like, the right way. she was having really, like, labored breathing,” Amanda said. “I think they were thinking concussion at the time because they said if she was throwing up, they would be calling an ambulance. And that’s key in our story.”The Bryans returned to Omaha the next day on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024 and said they took Reese to an urgent care. The lawsuit alleges Reese was diagnosed with strep and was told to take medicine immediately. “But we knew within 3 or 4 days that wasn’t it,” Amanda said. The Bryans said Reese saw her normal pediatrician, Dr. Lars Vanderbur, that Monday. “Told them all the symptoms, like dizzy, couldn’t keep her balance,” Tracy said. “Reese was seen Saturday in Kansas City, Sunday in Omaha, Monday in Omaha, Thursday in Omaha.” Claiming in the lawsuit, Vanderbur “considered imaging but decided against it.””She was never ordered an MRI, CAT scan, nothing,” Amanda said. The lawsuit also claims Vanderbur did not provide any instructions to avoid any extra force to her brain such as “tumbling, spinning, and other activities that are common as a highly successful athlete at Elite Cheer.”On Jan. 29, 2024, Reese went to cheer practice. “As I was pulling into the parking lot, I got a text from one of the owners letting me know that she was now throwing up,” Amanda said. But, according to the lawsuit, it was worse than that.”It looked like, she was having a stroke,” Amanda said. “The left side of her face was drooping, she was slurring her words. She couldn’t stand up. She was shaking uncontrollably. She was cold.”Amanda said she rushed her daughter to the hospital. According to the lawsuit, no one at Elite Cheer had called an ambulance despite knowing that days earlier, paramedics had advised to do so if Reese started throwing up.”Had you seen what I walked into, anyone in their right mind would have looked at our child and knew she needed help, and she needed it now,” Amanda said. The Bryans said Reese spent three weeks in the hospital before dying from the brain bleed, that they later learned was caused by her undiagnosed tumor.”It’s been two years of just hell that you don’t ever feel the same,” Tracy said. Now, they hope a jury will help them find answers. “The last thing we’d ever want is for some other family to go through that,” Tracy said. KETV reached out to all defendants named in the lawsuit. Elite Cheer’s attorneys responded on behalf of the gym, Stoltenburg and Dayne Hooker: “Elite Cheer was deeply saddened by Reese’s passing, and their thoughts and prayers remain with the Bryan family. Due to ongoing legal proceedings, Elite Cheer is unable to comment further. Out of respect for the Bryan family and their expressed wish for privacy, Elite Cheer refrains from additional comment.”In response for Dr. Vanderbur and itself, Children’s Physicians wrote: “Children’s Physicians does not comment on pending litigation. Our top priority is delivering safe, high-quality care, which we strive to provide for every child we treat. Our thoughts are with this family.”The Bryans said they won’t stop fighting for their daughter. “We want justice for Reese so bad,” Amanda said. A date has not been set yet for the jury trial for this lawsuit, and so far, none of the defendants have filed formal answers. Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
Two years ago, an 8-year-old Reese Bryan died after suffering a massive brain bleed. Now her family is suing a local cheer gym and Children’s Physicians.
At the time, the family said, doctors did not know what caused it. Later, according to the lawsuit, her parents were told Reese had an undiagnosed brain tumor. Now, the Bryan’s are claiming negligence against Elite Cheer and medical negligence against Children’s Physicians.
Advertisement
Tracy and Amanda Bryan said they knew their daughter was set to accomplish big dreams.
“She really was extraordinary,” Amanda said.
“She was an all-star cheerleader and really good for her age of eight, not only that, but as a softball player too,” Tracy said.
It wasn’t just her athletic talent that set her apart, it was her bright spirit and her kind heart they remember most.
“Her energy was so contagious,” Tracy said.
“Everyone said that she was their best friend,” Amanda said.
Reese died at just 8-years-old on Feb. 23, 2024.
“She was our heartbeat,” Tracy said through tears.
Eight months later, the Bryans learned more about what led to her death.
“It was finally in October when we got her autopsy results back,” Amanda said. “She had a small brain tumor and it was bleeding and it was cancerous, but it was very, the type of cancer it was and the grade of it was really, really low.”
“There’s not a day I don’t think about her,” Tracy said. “I wish she was still with us because she should be.”
In Jan. of this year, the Bryans filed a lawsuit against Elite Cheer, its co-owner Lance Stoltenberg and Reese’s coach, Vanessa Dayne Hooker. Also named are Reese’s pediatrician, Dr. Lars Vanderbur and Children’s Physicians. They’re claiming negligence and medical negligence.
“We want truth and we want answers,” Amanda said.
About a month before she died, Amanda said Reese began experiencing strange symptoms.
“She came home from school and was telling me she was dizzy and just typical mom answer, like are you hungry? Did you eat a snack? And as time went on, a couple of days, it wasn’t getting any better,” Amanda said.
By the weekend, Amanda said Reese told her she felt okay enough to travel with her cheer team to Kansas City. It was there the Bryans said that Reese collapsed.
“She couldn’t stand. She couldn’t walk, so they texted me to come back there and I did. The paramedics looked at her and her eyes weren’t tracking, like, the right way. she was having really, like, labored breathing,” Amanda said. “I think they were thinking concussion at the time because they said if she was throwing up, they would be calling an ambulance. And that’s key in our story.”
The Bryans returned to Omaha the next day on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024 and said they took Reese to an urgent care. The lawsuit alleges Reese was diagnosed with strep and was told to take medicine immediately.
“But we knew within 3 or 4 days that wasn’t it,” Amanda said.
The Bryans said Reese saw her normal pediatrician, Dr. Lars Vanderbur, that Monday.
“Told them all the symptoms, like dizzy, couldn’t keep her balance,” Tracy said. “Reese was seen Saturday in Kansas City, Sunday in Omaha, Monday in Omaha, Thursday in Omaha.”
Claiming in the lawsuit, Vanderbur “considered imaging but decided against it.”
“She was never ordered an MRI, CAT scan, nothing,” Amanda said.
The lawsuit also claims Vanderbur did not provide any instructions to avoid any extra force to her [Reese] brain such as “tumbling, spinning, and other activities that are common as a highly successful athlete at Elite Cheer.”
On Jan. 29, 2024, Reese went to cheer practice.
“As I was pulling into the parking lot, I got a text from one of the owners letting me know that she was now throwing up,” Amanda said.
But, according to the lawsuit, it was worse than that.
“It looked like, she was having a stroke,” Amanda said. “The left side of her face was drooping, she was slurring her words. She couldn’t stand up. She was shaking uncontrollably. She was cold.”
Amanda said she rushed her daughter to the hospital. According to the lawsuit, no one at Elite Cheer had called an ambulance despite knowing that days earlier, paramedics had advised to do so if Reese started throwing up.
“Had you seen what I walked into, anyone in their right mind would have looked at our child and knew she needed help, and she needed it now,” Amanda said.
The Bryans said Reese spent three weeks in the hospital before dying from the brain bleed, that they later learned was caused by her undiagnosed tumor.
“It’s been two years of just hell that you don’t ever feel the same,” Tracy said.
Now, they hope a jury will help them find answers.
“The last thing we’d ever want is for some other family to go through that,” Tracy said.
KETV reached out to all defendants named in the lawsuit.
Elite Cheer’s attorneys responded on behalf of the gym, Stoltenburg and Dayne Hooker: “Elite Cheer was deeply saddened by Reese’s passing, and their thoughts and prayers remain with the Bryan family. Due to ongoing legal proceedings, Elite Cheer is unable to comment further. Out of respect for the Bryan family and their expressed wish for privacy, Elite Cheer refrains from additional comment.”
In response for Dr. Vanderbur and itself, Children’s Physicians wrote: “Children’s Physicians does not comment on pending litigation. Our top priority is delivering safe, high-quality care, which we strive to provide for every child we treat. Our thoughts are with this family.”
The Bryans said they won’t stop fighting for their daughter.
“We want justice for Reese so bad,” Amanda said.
A date has not been set yet for the jury trial for this lawsuit, and so far, none of the defendants have filed formal answers.
Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |
