A Minnesota mother has been sentenced to prison for the death of her 9-year-old daughter, which resulted from an untreated asthma attack. Rachel Modrow, 36, of Hopkins, chose to treat her daughter’s severe asthma attack with home remedies and a steam bath, despite the child’s visibly deteriorating condition, according to Hennepin County prosecutors.
The incident occurred while the child was at a sleepover. The mother of the child’s friend noticed the girl’s distress, marked by heavy wheezing, bluish skin, and inability to lift her arms. She offered to take the child to the hospital, but Modrow insisted on treating her daughter at home or taking her to the hospital herself.
The friend’s mother drove the child home and informed Modrow of the severity of the girl’s condition. The child was using her grandmother’s inhaler as her parents did not have one for her. Despite the worsening symptoms, Modrow insisted on treating her daughter at home.
Modrow pleaded guilty in October and was sentenced to 41 months in prison on Monday for second-degree manslaughter. She admitted to causing her daughter’s death in February of last year. The child’s father, Anthony Modrow, pleaded not guilty to his second-degree manslaughter charge and is set to go on trial later this month.
At home, the child’s condition continued to worsen. Anthony Modrow told police that their daughter was struggling to breathe, crying, and visibly unwell. The couple attempted to use a rescue inhaler and an inhalation asthma drug, Advair, but to no avail. They also tried home remedies, including a steam bath, which had no effect.
A family friend who was visiting the couple noticed the child’s condition and called 911. Emergency medical services transported the child to a local hospital, where she remained in the ICU for seven days before being declared brain-dead due to a lack of oxygen to her brain caused by the asthma attack.
Medical professionals consulted on the case emphasized the importance of early medical intervention for asthma. They noted that a steam bath is not a recognized treatment for asthma and stressed the necessity of an asthma patient having a rescue inhaler. They also pointed out that using another person’s inhaler may not be effective as it may not contain the appropriate medication. The sooner the medical treatment, the better the outcome, they stated. Anthony Modrow’s trial is set to begin on January 27.