The reality (or finality) of H1N1

It been a long week. My daughter's friend from school died of H1N1 on Wed morning. It is the most heartbreaking story I have heard. I didn't know the boy. She just met him this year. He graduated last year but came everyday to help in the drama dept after school. He was like a mentor to these kids. He loved acting and wanted to be an actor. He was also loved by most everyone in the school, I think. He was Homecoming King last year, what makes that amazing to me is he was not a jock, not particularly handsome and he was even gay. But he had charisma and charm, so much so that everyone wanted to be his friend. Now he is gone. His parents did everything right. After he got sick with fever and cough that didn't get better in a few days they took him to the emergency room. They gave him an antibiotic and sent them home. The next day he had difficulty breathing so they took him back. He was immediately transported to a trauma hospital. He journey from there is something you only hear about in movies. He went into resp failure after his lungs filled with fluid and was placed on a ventilator. He body couldn't fight the infection and ultimately his legs were amputated to help conserve blood flow to his vital organs. If he had survived, he would have lost his hands/arms next. But his heart gave out and he died at the age of 18. From everything that I know, he was healthy and had no underling conditions. My heart breaks for his family. I am afraid to send my children to school or out in public because I don't want them to be next. The H1N1 vaccine is not readily avail in our county yet. A very few have gotten it, but there are many children out of school each day with what is prob the Swine Flu. While most cases are mild, you just never know. Tonight is the viewing. My daughter wants to go, so I will be going with her. I will be coming face to face with the reality of this virus. Please keep his family in your prayers.