The family of a 2-year-old boy, Saunti Cooke, who died after choking on food at a New Britain, Connecticut day care, is demanding answers and accountability. His mother says he was healthy when she dropped him off that morning.

His mom, Shamyra Cooke, said she received a call from the YWCA 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥care center saying her son had choked on a piece of a meatball but was still breathing. Staff told her to come quickly. When she arrived, Cooke found emergency responders already performing CPR on her son.

“Everyone was freaking out, everyone was crying, everyone was running around, and they were already doing CPR on my son,” Cooke recalled, according to Fox 8 Live. “When they closed the door on me, once the EMS closed the door on me, I already knew. I work at a hospital, I know how this goes.”

Despite medical efforts, Saunti didn’t survive. Cooke is heartbroken and wants answers about what happened inside the day care.

“I don’t have nothing left but my son’s shirt. I don’t even want to take a shower because I have his scent on my skin,” she said. “There is no way I can bury my son without answers. This is just too much for a person. My son barely got a chance to live.”

The YWCA confirmed a 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 died after a medical emergency and said staff followed emergency protocols, contacted 911, and notified the family. But Cooke disputes that, saying she wasn’t kept informed.

The center closed temporarily after the incident. The family has hired a lawyer and is pushing for transparency.

An autopsy is underway to confirm the cause of death. The Connecticut Department of Children and Families is leading the investigation. Police have not announced a criminal investigation at this time.