The Allen Family
Madi survived influenza, but to this day, she still struggles with side effects of her near-death experience.
Read Madi’s story
The Andersen Family
Brittany’s infection with Influenza A started with a sore throat, but rapidly escalated to every parent’s worst nightmare.
Read Britt’s story
The Booth Family
The flu progressed to pneumonia and Austin was also found to have MRSA. It was more than his body could fight.
Read Austin’s story
The Byerman Family
Bryerlee became hypoxic due to flu, which restricted her body from getting oxygen to her brian, liver and other organs.
Read Bryerlee's story
The Cargile Family
Maya’s mother knows that a flu vaccine could have prevented their horrible ordeal.
Read Maya’s story
The Chandler Family
Chance's family did not know that the vaccine changes annually and as such people need to get vaccinated every year.
Read Chance's Story
The Cover Family
Three days after first exhibiting symptoms, the flu virus caused Elizabeth's lungs to fill with blood in a complication known as bi-lateral pneumonia.
Read Elizabeth's Story
The Craft Family
Chelsea was not vaccinated against H1N1 because at the time the vaccine was not available in her community.
Read Chelsea's Story
The D’Imperio Family
The autopsy revealed that James had influenza and a bronchial virus; however, he had no other illnesses or risk factors.
Read James's Story
The Das Family
Anakin was born 10 weeks premature as a result of his mother contracting influenza while pregnant. He now suffers from chronic lung disease.
Read Anakin's story
The Drapeau Family
Amiah was just 4-years-old when she developed pneumonia and sepsis, brought on by the influenza B virus.
Read Amiah's story
The Duvall Family
Luke was a healthy 15-year-old athlete who spent 12 days in a coma and 30 days hospitalized with flu.
Read Luke's Story
The Estlinbaum Family
Saying goodbye to Tony was something his parent’s hearts couldn’t or wouldn’t prepare for.
Read Tony's Story
The Fulweiler Family
At 40 years old, Nick was an active, healthy father whose flu illness resulted in a life-threatening hospitalization for 28 days, rehabilitation, and lifelong medical complications.
Read Nick's Story
The Gonzales Family
At 12:46 p.m. on October 29, 2009, Brandon lost his life to H1N1 influenza. Brandon was not vaccinated against the flu.
Read Brandon's Story
The Gorenstein Family
Drastic changes in blood pressure, failing kidneys and other serious problems plagued Nate’s recovery. But, slowly he started to improve.
Read Nate's Story
The Hauver Family
Will was a young, successful college athlete who had a bright future. He was also a Type 1 diabetic. Will's flu illness progressed to diabetic ketoacidosis, causing him to lose his life in less than three days.
Read Will's Story
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 brought on by the flu virus.
Read Latasha's story
The Henderson Family
Elijah died from influenza, just two days after showing his first symptom. He was not vaccinated against the flu.
Read Elijah's Story
The Holt Family
Joey’s brother, Jeffrey, was also hospitalized and admitted for a week because of similar symptoms.
Read Joey's Story
The Hunt Family
Amy lost her life to secondary complications caused by the influenza virus. She had not been vaccinated because it was not recommended by her family's doctor.
Read Amy's story
The Jackson Family
This tragedy has made Marques’ mother and grandfather crusaders for yearly influenza vaccinations.
Read Marques' Story
The Kanowitz Family
Amanda’s mother called the family doctor, who told her that she had received over 60 calls that weekend about the same virus.
Read Amanda's Story
The Lastinger Family
After she was bathed and dressed for the doctor’s office, Emily laid down in her parents’ bed to rest. She was found lifeless 15 minutes later.
Read Emily's Story
The Lin Family
Trevor’s father is currently campaigning for improved criteria for the health care practitioner evaluation of and hospitalization of children with influenza.
Read Trevor's Story
The Lowery Family
Piper had not been vaccinated against the flu because she did not like needles. Piper’s mother, Pegy, is now an active advocate for annual flu vaccinations.
Read Piper's Story
The Mann-O'Brien Family
Kendra was a 35-year-old mother of two when she lost her life to flu.
Read Kendra's Story
The Marotta Family
Joseph had not been vaccinated against H1N1 influenza because at the time the vaccine was not available in his community.
Read Joseph's Story
The McCarthy Family
What seemed like a little “bug” where she was achy with a fever, turned into her struggling for breath and fighting for her life.
Ready Ayzlee's Story
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.
Read Ashley's Story
The McGowan Family
Martin died of complications from influenza just 24 hours after his first symptom appeared.
Read Martin's Story
The McKinley-Rosen Family
Although he has not spoken a word again since the injury, his mother remains optimistic that she will hear him call her “Mommy” again soon.
Read Christopher's Story
The Miller Family
Allison nearly lost her life to secondary flu complications, which included amputation of her left leg above the knee.
Read Allison's Story
The Miller Family
Caroline had been vaccinated against the flu every year except this particular year.
Read Caroline's Story
The Mitchell Family
As a result of her flu illness, Christa developed pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and septic shock, which led to the loss of her fingers and toes.
Read Christa's Story
The Moise Family
Ian died on December 17, 2003 of complications from Influenza A, approximately 30 hours after he showed his first symptom of being sick.
Read Ian's Story
The Northrop Family
As Liza's body tried to fight off her flu infection, her lungs became stiff and brittle, until they blew apart from what is known as pneumothorax.
Read Liza's story
The Nuland Family
Jacob’s mother knows that the vaccine may have saved his life – it may have given Jacob just enough protection to get through it.
Read Jacob's Story
The Palmer Family
Breanne died in her mother’s arms on December 23, 2003 from Influenza A.
Read Breanne's Story
The Peters Family
Prior to her illness, it was never suggested that Brittney receive a flu vaccine. She was a very happy, healthy child with no history of chronic illness.
Read Brittney's Story
The Pisani Family
Today, Antonio is a healthy child who gets vaccinated against influenza every year, as does his entire family.
Read Antonio's Story
The Pulgini Family
Cecilia was a healthy 45-year-old woman before she lost her life to flu after eight agonizing days in the hospital.
Read Cecilia's Story
The Sidari Family
Leon was healthy and vibrant. But that didn't keep him from dying on Christmas morning, only two days after showing general flu symptoms.
Read Leon's story
The Smith Family
In less than 48 hours, flu took the life of bubbly, joyous 3-year-old Cayden.
Read Cayden's Story
The Smith Family
In the blink of an eye, a parent’s worst nightmare became the Smith’s reality.
Read Noel's Story
The Splan Family
The flu attacked Emma's heart, causing her to lose her life at just 6 years old.
Read Emma's Story
The Stein Family
When 4-year-old Jessica's heart stopped beating doctors attempted to revive her, but were unsuccessful.
Read Jessica's Story
The Tsoumbakos Family
For many months after influenza, Ayla required a wheelchair and had difficulty walking unassisted.
Read Ayla's Story
The Vlasman Family
Marty spent six weeks in a coma due to flu. His heart stopped three times, his kidneys failed, and he lost over 100 pounds. He still stuffers with chronic health complications.
Read Marty's story
The Wehrkamp Family
Her family wants everyone to know how serious the flu can be, even for healthy children like Gianna.
Read Gianna's Story
The Yaksich Family
Within 24 hours of her arrival at the local hospital, Alana died of flu-related complications that caused swelling and injury to her brain.
Read Alana's Story