Child Actor Millena Brandão Dies at 11 After 12 Cardiac Arrests
Brace yourselves for a heartbreak nobody asked for. In late June, young Millena Brandão—best known for her breakout turn in the indie hit “Sparkling Eyes”— suffered a staggering 12 documented cardiac arrests before finally succumbing to complications at just 11 years old, according to hospital records obtained by the New York Post and a family statement shared with People Magazine. Fans might recall her precocious charm lighting up the red carpet at the 2023 Kids’ Choice Awards; tragically, that glow masked an undiagnosed heart condition that went unnoticed until it was too late.
Sources close to the Brandão family say they first noticed warning signs on June 24, when Millena collapsed during a dance rehearsal in Pasadena. Medics performed an emergency intubation on-site before rushing her to California Pacific Medical Center, where she would endure 11 more cardiac arrests over the next 72 hours (NY Post, 06/29/24). A rep for the hospital confirmed those critical events but declined to comment further, citing patient privacy.
Her mother, Lucia Brandão, tearfully told Variety that the girl—who’d just landed a recurring role on a new Nickelodeon series—never complained about chest pain or fatigue. “She always danced through life,” Lucia said. “We had no idea her heart was betraying her.” Public records show the family filed for emergency care coverage under California’s Medi-Cal program days before the collapse, underscoring how sudden and severe Millena’s downturn was.
Industry insiders are now questioning whether prodigies like Millena face undue pressure, pointing to a spate of young talents rushed into back-to-back shoots without thorough medical screenings (TMZ, 07/02/24). Meanwhile, friends recall text messages where she joked about “heart racing” before auditions—remarks everyone assumed were nerves, not red flags.
Expect discussions about child‐actor welfare to intensify next week, starting with a SAG-AFTRA safety review slated for July 15. In the meantime, the Brandão family has set up a memorial fund in Millena’s name, hoping to help other young artists access better health care.
That’s today’s dose of reality. You’re welcome.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and New York Post, People Magazine, Variety, TMZ
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
