DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. -- Renee “Sunshine” Lewis broke down in tears in front of the Emory Sleep Center, as friends of her late son held up signs to passers-by on Clifton Road.

The signs read, ‘What happened to my son?’ and ‘He died during a sleep study.’

Lewis said her son Brandon Harris, 25, checked into the sleep center on Jan. 23. She said his doctor referred him to the clinic to find out why he was having a hard time sleeping.

Lewis said she got a phone call early the next morning. “They were taking him to the emergency room. And I just thought, well, you know, he needed a little oxygen, and they’re going to give him some and he would be OK,” she said.

By the time she got to the hospital, it was too late.

Brandon’s sleep study – and perhaps his death -- were captured on video, since cameras are one way clinicians monitor patients’ sleep patterns. Brandon’s uncle and pastor said they watched the video with Emory officials. They claim it was clear Brandon was in distress.

“Seven to 10 specific different times, he asked for help, over and over again for somebody to come and to assist him, and it never happened,” said Brandon’s uncle John Lewis.

Brandon’s mother said she saw her son’s body at the funeral home right after the hospital released it. “Blood was all over his face and on his head, and that’s not consistent with a sleep study,” she said.

She said she hasn’t received her son's death certificate. She said an autopsy was performed, but that the cause of death was listed as simply “sudden death.”

“If they tell me he died from a heart attack, pneumonia, cancer, HIV, any other deadly disease, he should not have had blood on him,” Lewis said. “He should not have had a knot on his head.”

Emory Healthcare spokesman Lance Skelly declined on on-camera interview. He released the following statement: “The death of a young man is always tragic. Our doctors, nurses and caregivers share the sense of loss felt so keenly by this family and friends, and we are committed to providing the best care possible. The care he received while at Emory was appropriate given his medical condition. We have and will continue to address the family’s questions and concerns.”