FFF Advocate:

Laura Sidari (mother)

Place of Residence:

Dayton, OH

Date of Death:

December 25, 2017

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Leon Sidari

Leon died on Christmas morning, only two days after showing flu symptoms.

Leon’s Flu Illness
Four-year-old Leon was known as an “old soul” with patience and gentleness beyond his age. His smile was infectious and his love for his brothers inspiring. Like roughly half of the children who die annually from flu, Leon did not have a history of prior medical problems.

His illness began with signs of fever and general muscle aches. He spent the day sipping chicken noodle soup and watching cartoons on the living room couch. The next morning Leon’s parents, both physicians, quickly recognized when he began having difficulty breathing and that they needed to promptly seek treatment. Even as they prepared to leave for the hospital, Leon wasn’t acting particularly ill. He ate breakfast, dressed himself in his “big boy” jeans, and put on his black Velcro sneakers.

Flu Hospitalization
Leon was officially diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia and influenza A in the emergency room on Christmas Eve. It never occurred to his family that he would not be coming home. Once Leon arrived at the hospital he was rapidly admitted to a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.  His parents felt confident in his treatment plan at that point, but they still didn’t fully understand how dangerous flu can be, even for a healthy child.

Flu Death
Unfortunately, despite receiving life-saving medical care, Leon passed away early Christmas morning after developing pulmonary hemorrhage (bleeding in his lungs) from his condition.

Why Getting Vaccinated Before Flu Season Starts Is Critical
Leon’s mother, Laura, had planned to get her son his annual flu shot during a well-child visit later in the season. Leon did not survive the flu season long enough to attend that visit. She now understands why the medical community overwhelmingly recommends an annual flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older by the end of October.

In the aftermath of losing her son, Laura discovered that Leon’s story was similar to many other pediatric flu-related deaths. She learned that roughly half of the children who die annually from flu complications do not have a history of prior medical problems. Like Leon, many die rapidly within a few days of showing initial symptoms. Sadly, children without pre-existing health conditions are more likely to die rapidly from flu-related complications compared to other pediatric populations. 

Flu vaccination reduces the risk of death in healthy children by as much as 65 percent. And roughly 80 percent of children who die from flu have not received their annual flu vaccine.  

Since Leon passed, Laura has discovered that there are many parents, and even other physicians, who have not always prioritized flu vaccines for their families. The fall and winter months can be challenging, with multiple demands on our time and energy, particularly as the holidays approach. However, Laura shares Leon’s story because this experience has brought upon indescribable pain that she hopes to help others avoid.

She explains that there are no words to describe the agony of having to open Christmas presents for a child who will never be coming home. Like many other parents who have lost children, Laura feels as if her “old life” ended when Leon died and a different life began. Every day, Leon is not far from her mind. He is her reason for getting her other two sons their flu vaccines on time, this and every flu season.

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