The emotional stories of families whose lives have been permanently altered by the flu.
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The Clagg Family
Born on Easter Day, April 16, 1995, Tessa was a healthy girl, the bright light and the rock of her family. Everything changed when she got Influenza B.
The Covert Family
Kaitlyn Covert was a student at the University of Florida in Gainesville when she almost died from the flu.
The Parks Family
Kennedy was a vibrant and otherwise healthy 2-year-old who died suddenly from the flu in 2023.
The Stevenson Family
Kaden was an otherwise healthy, active 7-year-old who ended up losing both of his legs due to complications from flu.
The Zenus Family
Aaron was a healthy 12-year-old who died from flu only 72 hours after his first symptoms appeared.
The Katz-Weiner Family
Aviva Katz was a pediatric surgeon recovering from leukemia who died from the flu.
The Swenson Family
Josiah was hospitalized with flu during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Zabel Family
Kayauna was a healthy 20-year-old who died from a flu infection that caused multi-system organ failure.
The Schwolert Family
Max was a healthy, 17-year-old athlete whose life was tragically cut short by flu.
The Teichman Family
Brent was a vibrant and healthy 29-year-old chef who died just four hours after seeking medical care.
The Hinderliter Family
Charlie was a healthy 38-year-old whose flu illness put him in the hospital for 58 days.
The Hall Family
Shari was a healthy mom and wife whose flu illness led to 41 days in the ICU and multiple amputations.
The Darling Family
Isabella's flu illness damaged her lungs, leading to a double lung transplant.
The Crane Family
Blake's parents did not know that people die from the flu until it happened to their son.
The Romero Family
Madison passed away from flu after her heart stopped beating for the fourth time.
The Pena Family
Reese's mother thought the flu vaccine was optional. This one decision not to vaccinate forever changed her life.
The Spencer Family
Within minutes of arriving at the hospital, Julianna’s heart stopped beating.
The Rogers Family
Jewel was hospitalized for over three months with complications of H1N1 flu.
The Neiman-Brown Family
JJ was a healthy two-year-old whose life was taken by flu in less than 24 hours.
The Rasmussen Family
Paul was a healthy 57-year-old whose first-ever flu illness led to his death.
The Hauver Family
Will's flu illness progressed to diabetic ketoacidosis, causing him to lose his life in less than three days.
The Fulweiler Family
Nick's flu illness caused a 28-day hospitalization and multiple medical complications.
The Miller Family
Allison's flu illness resulted in the amputation of her left leg above the knee.
The Splan Family
The flu attacked Emma's heart, causing her to lose her life at just 6 years old.
The Sidari Family
Leon died on Christmas morning, only two days after showing flu symptoms.
The Vlasman Story
Marty went out with friends to celebrate New Year's Eve. When he woke up, it was February.
The Pulgini Family
Cecilia lost her life to the flu after eight agonizing days in the hospital.
The Byerman Family
Bryerlee's flu illness was almost deadly - but thankfully she survived.
The Haynes Family
Latasha was a healthy, active 34-year-old when what seemed like a simple illness turned into pneumonia and congestive heart failure.
The Hunt Family
Amy lost her life to secondary complications caused by the influenza virus.
The Das Family
Anakin was born 10 weeks premature because his mother had the flu while pregnant.
The Smith Family
In less than 48 hours, flu took the life of bubbly, joyous 3-year-old Cayden.
The Wehrkamp Family
In less than two days, the flu took Gianna's life while she was sleeping.
The Stein Family
When 4-year-old Jessica's heart stopped beating doctors attempted to revive her, but were unsuccessful.
The Smith Family
In the blink of an eye, a parent’s worst nightmare became the Smith’s reality.
The Pisani Family
Antonio wasn't vaccinated against the flu because at the time it wasn't recommended for his age.
The Peters Family
Prior to her death, no one suggested that Brittney receive a flu vaccine.
The Nuland Family
Jacob has been hospitalized twice from the flu. Flu vaccination may have saved his life both times.
The Moise Family
Ian died of complications from influenza A 30 hours after he showed his first symptom of being sick.
The Miller Family
Caroline had been vaccinated against the flu every year. The one year her parents forgot, she ended up hospitalized with flu.
The McKinley-Rosen Family
Christopher had a sudden onset of influenza B that caused a brain injury.
The McCormick Family
Ashley’s doctors had a hard time finding a hospital that had an available ECMO machine because it was the peak of the flu season and they were all being used.
The McCarthy Family
What seemed like a little “bug” that caused Ayzlee to feel achy with a fever turned into her struggling for breath and fighting for her life.
The Marotta Family
Joseph had not been vaccinated against H1N1 influenza because at the time the vaccine was not available in his community.
The Mann-O’Brien Family
Kendra was a 35-year-old mother of two when she lost her life to flu.
The Lowery Family
The year she died, Piper had not been vaccinated against the flu because she did not like needles.
The Lastinger Family
Emily laid down in her parents’ bed to rest. She was found lifeless 15 minutes later.
The Jackson Family
Marques’ death has made his family crusaders for yearly influenza vaccinations.
The Holt Family
Joey had not been vaccinated against H1N1 because at the time the vaccine was not available in his community.
The Henderson Family
Elijah died from influenza just two days after showing his first symptom. He was not vaccinated against the flu.
The Gorenstein Family
Nate's asthma exacerbated his flu illness and his heart stopped beating.
The Estlinbaum Family
Tony was one of the first children hospitalized with H1N1 in the US.
The Duvall Family
Luke was a healthy 15-year-old athlete who spent 12 days in a coma and 30 days in the hospital with flu.
The Craft Family
Chelsea was not vaccinated against H1N1 because at the time the vaccine was not available in her community.
The Chandler Family
Chance's family did not know that the vaccine changes annually and, as such, people need to get vaccinated every year.
The Kanowitz Family
Amanda seemed to have a typical virus, but within 48 hours she was found lifeless in her bed.
The Palmer Family
Breanne died in her mother’s arms on December 23, 2003 from influenza A.
The McGowan Family
Martin died of complications from influenza just 24 hours after his first symptom appeared.
The Cargile Family
Maya’s mother knows that a flu vaccine could have prevented their horrible ordeal.
The Booth Family
Austin’s parents wish they could rewind to before their nightmare began to get vaccinated against the flu.
The Allen Family
Madi was a healthy 12-year-old athlete before she spent a total of 93 days in the hospital recovering from her near-death experience with flu.