A tragic incident unfolded in Nebraska, where an 8-year-old cheerleader tragically passed away due to a severe brain hemorrhage, reportedly after her cheer coaches insisted she continue performing demanding flips, handsprings, and tumbling. This occurred despite her having a known neurological condition, her family claims. The situation was exacerbated by her pediatrician allegedly declining to conduct imaging scans, even though she exhibited multiple signs of a brain tumor.

Reese Bryan’s parents have filed a lawsuit, stating that “Dr. Vanderbur considered imaging but ultimately decided against it,” as reported by Law&Crime.

The lawsuit contends that Reese’s pilocytic astrocytoma, an underlying brain tumor, remained undiagnosed and untreated. The legal document emphasizes, “The tumor was highly treatable if diagnosed correctly. Due to Dr. Vanderbur’s breach of the appropriate medical care standards, Reese endured: bleeding of the tumor, increased cranial pressure due to brain bleeding, worsening of her existing neurological condition, and ultimately, death on February 23, 2024.”

At the time of her death, Reese was part of the Elite Cheer team in Omaha. Her parents have named the team, along with its staff—including her coach and the co-owner—as defendants in their legal action.

The complaint reveals that Reese had a recognized neurological condition, and the Elite Cheer team was aware of her past experiences of symptoms, such as vomiting during a Kansas City competition weeks prior to her passing.

The legal filing also notes that the cheer team had been cautioned that if Reese vomited or showed symptoms during physical activity, it should trigger an emergency transport to a hospital.

On Jan. 29, 2024, Reese reported feeling “dizzy, imbalanced, unable to stand, unable to walk” and “unable to hear” with asymmetric facial features reminiscent of a stroke, her parents say. This was allegedly nine days after the Kansas City incident.

“The left side of her face was drooping,” Amanda Bryan, Reese’s mom, told local ABC affiliate KETV in an interview this week. “She was slurring her words. She couldn’t stand up. She was shaking uncontrollably. She was cold.”

According to the complaint, employees at Elite Cheer did nothing to help Reese after she collapsed at their facility in Omaha and instead “abandoned” her while she “suffered” in front of them.

“Despite all these symptoms, [Reese] was left alone, isolated and concealed behind mats,” the complaint alleges, noting how her classmates were told by Elite Cheer personnel to not approach her as she experienced a massive brain bleed, according to the court document.

“[Reese] suffered as the minutes passed by ongoing and growingly irreversible neurological insult as a result of her brain bleeding,” the complaint says. “[Reese] sustained progressively worse neurological damage as she lay alone, eyes shut … and unable to move on Elite Cheer’s mat.”

The complaint says that “no one called 911” and “no one called Reese’s family members.” Reese’s mother says it wasn’t until she arrived to pick her up that she was told about what happened in text messages “from one of the owners” as she was “pulling into the parking lot.”

Amanda Bryan told KETV, “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.”

Reese was rushed to a local hospital by her mom, where she stayed for three weeks before her death on Feb. 23, 2024.

After the Kansas City incident, Reese’s parents say they took her to the girl’s pediatrician, Dr. Lars E. Vanderbur, as she suffered from symptoms of “dizziness, horizontal nystagmus, ptosis on the right eye, and tested positive for strep throat,” per the complaint. Reese was given antibiotics, but her symptoms allegedly continued.

Reese’s dad took her to Vanderbur again days later and he made a diagnosis of ‘post-infection fatigue’ and did not refer Reese for any further follow-up, according to the complaint. He allegedly refused to perform cranial imaging scans that could have detected neurological abnormalities and chose against sending Reese to a pediatric neurologist, despite “all these symptoms,” the complaint says.

“She was never ordered an MRI, CAT scan, nothing,” Amanda Bryan told KETV.

Reese’s parents allege that she died due to medical malpractice and negligence by Elite Cheer, its employees, and Vanderbur. They have requested a jury trial.

The defendants did not respond to Law&Crime’s requests for comment on Tuesday.