Ava Wilson beat cancer—but lost her life to a tragic medical error.

Just 36 hours after being discharged from an Illinois clinic in 2020, the 11-year-old died in her sleep from acute toxicity caused by a mix of morphine, gabapentin, and hydroxyzine. A jury has now awarded her family $20.5 million, finding that the powerful drugs she was prescribed were ultimately fatal.

Despite Ava’s visible pain, difficulty walking, and abnormal test results—including low blood pressure and elevated liver enzymes—clinic staff sent her home with increased dosages of medication. Her morphine was tripled, and her gabapentin dose also increased. Her oncologist never examined her but approved the changes.

“She was crying out for help,” said attorney Matthew Williams. “And they sent her home instead.”

Ava had been in remission from leukemia, with no signs of the disease in her blood. Her future looked bright—until a preventable mistake took it away.