[StBernard] SWINE FLU---NO JOKE FOLKS

[Westley Annis]

This was forwarded on to me from my friend back home in Louisiana.  We all
joke about the swine flu...but it should be taken very seriously!!  Please
read!!!

 

Rena

 

To all of my friends,  Please be really careful with this swine flu. It is
truly a killer.  This girl lived very near my daughter's house....Gina

 

This is a chronological summary of the medical situation as it unfolded for
19-year old Taylor Brian, the Denham Springs High School student who died
Saturday of Swine Flu. It is being shared by Judy Frye Speziale, a family
member of Taylor's.

 

I am passing this on to you as asked by this family, and ask that you also
share this timely information in the hopes of preventing another person,
especially a child, from dying from this virus. Time is critical if symptoms
appear! Please do not take what seems to be the common cold or cough for
granted.

 

Be very alert and cautious if a loved one - especially your child or
grandchild - shows any signs of this dangerous and fatal virus.

 

I read the other day that unlike typical flu which seems to more readily
attack the vulnerable very young and very old, the statistics being gathered
on Swine Flu indicate that it is hitting the general population age group
more. Not as many elderly or babies getting it as expected.  And a vaccine
is not anticipated until mid-October.

 

On Saturday, 9/5/09,  my son in law (Kelly Root) and my daughter (Stacy)
lost their 19 year old niece (Taylor Brian) to pneumonia related H1N1 (Swine
Flu) virus.  Taylor was a senior at Denham Springs High School.  

 

She was treated for strep throat on 8/20, got better but still had strep on
the 27th, began throwing up and was hospitalized in Baton Rouge General on
Bluebonnet, with a touch of pneumonia on 8/29.  She was tested for H1N1 and
the family was told it would take 10 days to get the results.  When her
fever got up to 105 over that weekend and she was placed in ICU.  

 

Her oxygen level got so low, she was given a paralytic drug and put on a
ventilator Monday.  Tuesday chest tubes had to be inserted.  Wednesday,
another swab for H1N1 was taken and a lab in Baton Rouge, which as I
understand will be dedicated for this type of testing, revealed Thursday she
tested POSITIVE for H1N1.  They tried to ween her off the paralytic drug in
preparation for removal of the vent, but could not because the blood
pressure and oxygen levels dropped.  

 

Every time they would do anything to her, such as suctioning her lungs or
bathing her, the BP and O2 levels would drop.  The family received a call
about 3 a.m. Saturday to return to the hospital as her levels dropped as she
was being repostioned.  This time they could not get her back and she passed
away around 4 a.m.  She will be buried on Wednesday.

 

It appears this virus attacked her lungs with a vengence.  The family was
told her lungs were like one big blister.

 

The reason I am relaying all of this to you is so you will be especially
alert if your child, grandchild, niece or nephew has any type of cold or
sore throat, you can take immediate action.   We don't know if Taylor had
the H1N1 virus before getting strep or vise versa.  In any event a perfectly
healthy young woman died in a very short time.

 

Taylor was a precious young lady who always had a smile on her face, was a
friend to all and a joy to be around. This whole ordeal has been like a
nightmare for my son-in-law and his family.  Please keep the Brian and Root
families in your prayers.   

 

Love and Thanks to you all,

 

Judy