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My very good friend, Judy Fahle (one of my "Sisterhood" girlfriends), lost her lovely 14 year-old niece to H1N1 - the first H1N1 death in DuPage County, Illinois. Her name was Michelle Fahle and she was a little bit sick on Monday, and dead (in a coma, died a short while later in the hospital) when her Mom went to wake her up Thursday morning. That's fast to lose a healthy and vibrant young teenager!

So, nag your kids to get your grandkids vaccinated when that vaccine becomes available. In the meantime, here's a cut 'n paste from a DuPage County Health Department sent to various community members (I moved to TN from DuPage County):

Since influenza is primarily spread by direct contact with nose and throat secretions, there are measures we can all take to
reduce our chances of becoming sick with influenza:


Practice good hand hygiene by washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or
sneezing. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.


Know the signs and symptoms of the flu. Symptoms of the flu include fever (100 degrees Fahrenheit, 37.8 degrees
Celsius or greater), cough, sore throat, a runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, and feeling very tired. For
medical questions or concerns, contact your physician.


Stay home if you are sick until at least 24 hours after there is no longer a fever or signs of a fever (without the use of
fever-reducing medications). This will help reduce the number of people who may get infected.


Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and throw it away after use.


Do not share eating utensils or drinking containers. Persons should not share straws, cups, glasses, water bottles
used during sports or recreation, cigarettes, etc.


Get your family vaccinated for seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 flu as vaccines are available.

Thanks, Mitch, good advice for sure. Until the population builds up an immunity to this new strain it will take it's toll. Scary!
There is a middle school in Oregon that has 130 kids out with it!

so sorry to your friend for their loss, we also lost a 14 year old girl a couple
weeks ago to this virus, and she also was totally healthy until that time. I
didn't know her but it just goes to show what this H1N1 virus is capable of.
Over this past week, I usually haul about 67 kids to school, my average
count this week was 41. I sanitize the seats and windows often this year.

OH, such a heart breaker, I can't imagine. In Austin, a 5 yr old girl also died. So scary since 'they' have been telling us it will be mild!

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My friend just called me and gave me this update from the Coroner's Office - 14 year-old Michelle had an underlying and contributing cause of death - she had a narrowed (for whatever unknown reason) carotid artery. I asked the question if she would have died of this narrowed artery anyway, and the answer was, "I don't know." I also asked if she would have died of H1N1 without having the narrowed artery and the answer was, "probably not."

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I am very sorry for your friend who lost the 14 year old. How sad! Prayers to all of them and you.

I am the wipes, Lysol, and hand sanitizer queen at my school - after each period, I spray and the kids hate it but you never know what is just starting.

I teach in a 25 seat computer lab and in Virginia the flu is limited but I get the feeling that is just a matter of time. I hope that everyone takes the advice to get the shots for both flues. (regular and H1N1) I pray for my students and small children who seem to be most at risk.

ohlucy

I'm with OhLucy .... I've only got 15 computers in my lab, but I wipe table tops, keyboards, mice, wall phone, door knobs with clorox wipes. I also have a "help yourself" pump of hand sanitizer on my desk by the door. The kids are wonderful about coughing into elbow, sanitizing hands, etc. But those little germies will still get around. Good advice is to not touch your face,.... eyes, nose, mouth,... we all do, but try not to!

Those of us that have been around for the past 5 or 6 decades have probably built up some immunity to the various strains of the flu and less likely to have a hard case of this new H1N1. Kids don't have that benefit and are more likely to be layed low by this one.

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Here is further information on the death of that 14 YO girl in DuPage County, IL. Turns out she had H1N1, but that wasn't what killed her. This is an email I received earlier today from her Aunt (my good friend):

Hi,

We found out some more information today regarding Michelle's death. It does bring some comfort. Apparently the narrowing of her artery (she had 50 layers of tissue when she should only have 1 like everyone else) caused her to go into cardiac arrest. Mike and Lori now feel fortunate to have had her in their lives for 15 years. Her artery was probably damaged a while ago from an infection, and she could have died any time. I think it brings comfort to them, even though it doesn't make the loss any less.

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers!!!

Love ya!
me


I'm glad the parents at least got a little comfort from knowing this...

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How sad to loose a child this age for any reason...the suggestions on what to do as preventative measures are really good ....one of things that the new brought our (and yes I tend to question most of what the media tells me so take it for what it is worth) and not a quote was that most of the deaths attributed to H1N1 also had contributing causes such as with this little one....does that make it so we should ignore it? no but perhaps it will lessen some of the fear of it.. Just do all that you would for anything that affects your health
sheila

I am so sorry for your friend's loss of a sweet girl. I've not had to experience the death of a child. How terrible for them.

I've already gotten my "regular" influenza vaccine this year, and will be first in line for the H1N1 when it has already been supplied to the at-risk population. My roommate cares for a severely disabled baby boy, and HIS parents refuse to get him immunized. Grrrr#@$%!!! SHE is getting the H1N1 vaccine as soon as she can.

I'm w/ Janice,, I got my 'regular' flu shot. Prolly not gonna get that H1N1 one.... i'll take my chances and wash my hands a LOT!!! Yeah,,,cedar,, @ school, i feel like i'm in a germ incubator! Usually at least one or 2 in class is sniffling and blowing all classperiod long! I shudder and wash my hands a lot. Yes, my kids, also, use the self serve antibacterial gel, sitting on every teacher;s desk in the whole school. (this is high school) Not sure what the younger ones do... I refuse to sub in lower grades or even JR HIGH. ,, just me...

I pray that this flu will run it's course and go bye bye. All the hype on stuff these days is quite alarming if one is in the habit of being an alarmist. I may be too trusting... but I DO trust.



J

Mitch, I'm sorry to hear of your friend's loss. It's sad that it happened. I was watching a program in the 90's about what germs are on everyday things, like salt and pepper shakers in restaurants, menus, etc., that just are not cleaned. They showed pictures of the cultures after swabbing and it turned by stomach. Ever since, I've become anal about wiping and washing my hands. In addition to the staying away from anyone sneezing and coughing and usual cleaning, I also get the wipes out after leaving a store, before starting the car I wipe my hands. Money is dirty, don't know where the cashier's hands have been, shopping carts are loaded with germs, etc. Since starting this habit I've only had 2 mild colds. That's my routine. Linda

So sorry to hear about the loss of the young girl. We got our regular flu shots a couple of days ago and will get the H1N1 when they come in. It is indeed worrisome this flu season and we are encouraging everyone to get their shots. Yes, indeedy lets all practice good health habits to help keep this flu bug in check!

My grandfather's 1st wife died from the big flu epidemic in, what year was it -- 1918 leaving my grandfather to find people to help him raise his large family. I guess if it hadn't happened though...he would never have met and married by grandmother and starting a second family. Strange how such a sad thing happened. We all have to trust ourselves and God that as hard as it is to handle -- no matter what we all have to pick up and go on...

Ouch and so sorry about their loss. I guess her time was going to come with that artery - and I'm glad they did an autopsy, because it sounds like this is helping to give closure to your friends. It's so hard to lose a child.

Now, what part of DuPage were you in? I lived and owned a business in Bensenville in the 90's.

As to flu shots - I'm not able to take them - so I figure it's important that I stay in contact with everything else that helps immunize me. I think one of the worst things today are the families who never go outside - are always in air conditioning or heat - their systems never get used to what's in the air. That's one reason for the rise of asthma in kids today - their systems don't develop immunities ours did when we played in the dirt, etc.