Sign Promise Wall
Mission: To save lives and reduce hospitalizations by protecting children, families, and communities against influenza.
Family Stories

The Splan Family

FFF Advocate:
Christy Pugh (mother)
Place of Residence:
Norwalk, CT
Date of Death:
February 18, 2018
Share this Story:
<< Back to Family Stories

Emma Splan

The flu attacked Emma’s heart, causing her to lose her life at just 6 years old. 

 

Emma’s Flu Illness
At 6 ½ years old, Emma was a healthy, happy, and kind child who loved her friends, animals, dancing, art, adventures, and being with her family. Emma came home from school on Tuesday, February 13th not feeling well. Emma’s parents didn’t know at that time if Emma just had a cold or was developing a more serious illness.

That evening, Emma’s parents took her to the urgent care at their pediatrician’s office. The doctors examined Emma but did not test her for flu because they were out of flu testing kits. Based on her examination, the doctors concluded that she likely had the flu. They did not prescribe an antiviral medication because Emma was not considered a high-risk patient. Additionally, due to the severe flu season, there were ongoing shortages of antiviral medications at local pharmacies. The doctors told Emma’s parents to keep her rested, hydrated, and to control her fever with Mortin or Tylenol.

Worsening of Symptoms
Even though she didn’t appear to be that sick, Emma stayed home from school the following day and spent time with her parents playing, building forts, and watching movies. A couple of days later, on February 16th, Emma went to bed with a slight fever. She woke up vomiting, which her parents initially attributed to eating something that didn’t agree with her. By 10:00 am the next day, Emma was still vomiting so her parents took her back to urgent care where she was given some anti-nausea medication. After throwing up the first dose of medication, she was given a second dose along with small sips of water and Pedialyte. Emma and her family returned home where she took a bath and watched a movie with her parents. That afternoon, Emma vomited again. Emma’s parents then decided to take her to the pediatric emergency room.

Flu Hospitalization
The doctors at the emergency room admitted Emma, started her on fluids and more anti-nausea medication, and planned to monitor her overnight. At approximately 10:00 pm that evening, based on her condition, the doctors told Emma’s parents that they recommended transferring Emma to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Yale New Haven Hospital. When she arrived at the PICU around midnight, Emma was sitting up, talking, and asking for an ice pack.

Flu Stopped Her Heart
Suddenly, around 1:45 am, Emma coughed and then her heart stopped. Doctors worked on her for approximately 30 minutes, administering CPR and epinephrine to try and restart her heart. Despite life-saving efforts, Emma passed around 2:15 am on February 18th.

Emma’s autopsy showed that the influenza B virus had attacked her heart, causing viral myocarditis.

Honoring Emma
Emma’s parents feel like they took all the necessary precautions to help protect her, including getting her vaccinated against the flu in October 2017. Although they realize that the flu vaccine is not perfect, Emma’s parents strongly believe that annual flu vaccination is critically important for everyone because it not only helps protect us as individuals but also helps protect others by reducing the spread of disease.

In honor of their daughter, Emma’s parents have started a charity called Emma’s Plan so they can continue to support the things that Emma loved in life, such as art, children, and animals. Emma’s mother makes kitty quilts as a way to honor her daughter’s legacy and has received thousands of kitty quilt blocks from all over the world, including South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Europe, and Mexico. Emma’s mother has donated these kitty quilts to Emma’s friends, schoolmates, family, and the health care professionals that were involved in her treatment. Her mother also continues to speak out publicly about the importance of flu vaccination in an effort to help prevent others from experiencing a similar tragedy.

Share this Story:
<< Back to Family Stories
Stay Informed
Sign up for our Weekly Flu News and quarterly newsletter, Fighting Influenza, to stay up-to-date on the latest flu news.
Newsletter

LOGO LICENSE AGREEMENT

You are required to accept all of the terms and conditions in this License Agreement in order to receive a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-assignable, royalty-free license to use the FAMILIES FIGHTING FLU, INC. logo, displayed below (the “FFF Logo”), from Families Fighting Flu, Inc. (“FFF”). In order to accept these terms and conditions, you must click the “I Accept” button below.

  1. FFF hereby grants to you, and you accept, a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-assignable, royalty-free license to use the FFF Logo, which you may download and use solely in online and print earned media publications for a period of no more than six (6) months in the United States.
  2. You acknowledge that the FFF Logo is a valid trademark; that FFF is the sole owner of the FFF Logo; and that FFF retains all right, title, and interest in and to the FFF Logo. You agree that any and all use that you make of the FFF Logo, and any and all goodwill arising from your use of the FFF Logo, shall inure exclusively to the benefit of FFF.  You also agree that you shall not challenge the validity of the FFF Logo or FFF’s ownership or title thereto during the term of the License Agreement or thereafter.
  3. You agree that you shall use the FFF Logo only in the form shown above, and that you shall not alter, modify, change, or edit the FFF Logo in any manner.
  4. You acknowledge the valuable goodwill and reputation in the FFF Logo, and that it is essential that the high standards and reputation associated with the FFF Logo be maintained. You therefore agree to use the FFF Logo consistent with the highest standards of quality so as to protect and maintain the FFF Logo and FFF’s rights therein.
  5. FFF shall have the right to review and inspect your use of the FFF Logo at any time. FFF, in its sole discretion, may determine that you are not using the FFF Logo in an acceptable manner and require that you discontinue your use of the FFF Logo.  To the extent that FFF requires that you discontinue your use of the FFF Logo, you agree that you shall remove the FFF Logo from all online and print earned media publications as soon as practicable under the circumstances, and that you shall not use the FFF at any time in the future.
  6. You must include the following notice in connection with any use of the FFF Logo: “The Families Fighting Flu, Inc. logo is the registered trademark of Families Fighting Flu, Inc.”
I Accept