A Houston mother is demanding answers and accountability after her eight-year-old daughter lost consciousness during an asthma attack at school and staff allegedly failed to call 911 as the medical emergency unfolded.
The incident occurred earlier December at KIPP Mosaic Primary School in southwest Houston, according to Kahtoyha Barnes, whose daughter, Kyrie Randall, was rushed to the hospital and later discharged wearing a heart monitor.
“Negligent at its finest,” Barnes said in an interview. “This was child neglect. My child’s life was on the line.”
According to Kyrie, the medical episode began while she was running on the playground.
“I took a breath, and then that was my last breath,” the third-grader said. “I took to my knees, and I fell.”
Barnes said school staff initially contacted Kyrie’s father instead of calling emergency services. When Barnes was eventually reached, she said the seriousness of the situation was downplayed.
“They told me she was in the office going in and out of consciousness, but the nurse wasn’t there,” Barnes said. “I asked, ‘Did you call 911?’ There was a pause—and they said no.”
Panicked, Barnes said she immediately contacted her mother and instructed her to call emergency services.
“I told her, ‘This is an emergency. Kyrie is losing consciousness. Call 911 now,’” Barnes said.
Barnes said when she arrived at the school, she was alarmed by what she described as a lack of urgency.
“I was frantic—asking where her asthma pump was,” she said. “This should never happen to any child.”
Kyrie was eventually transported to the hospital, where doctors released her with a heart monitor that she now wears daily as a precaution.
In a statement, KIPP Texas said student safety is its top priority and confirmed a medical incident occurred on December 12.
“School officials evaluated the situation and contacted the parent. EMS responded and provided care,” the statement read. “The school will continue to work with the family to ensure a medical plan is in place.”
However, the statement did not clarify who contacted emergency services. KIPP did not respond to follow-up questions asking whether school staff placed the 911 call.
Barnes disputes the school’s claim that a medical plan was absent, stating Kyrie has had an asthma action plan on file since enrolling at KIPP during pre-kindergarten.
“They didn’t follow it,” Barnes said. “That plan existed—and it was ignored.”
Now, Barnes says she wants accountability at every level.
“I want answers. I want jobs. I want criminal charges,” she said. “Families deserve to know that when their child is struggling to breathe, the adults in charge will act immediately.”
The incident has raised renewed concerns about response protocols in schools serving children with chronic health conditions.
