In a heart-wrenching journey to raise awareness about the flu shot’s life-saving potential, a mother is sharing her story after losing her daughter to complications from the flu.
Like many parents, Jenna Michaels faced a tough decision when her 12-year-old daughter, Lily, expressed her fear of needles and refused to get her flu shot. Wanting to avoid upsetting Lily, Jenna decided to let her skip it. Unfortunately, this decision led to a tragic outcome. Just days later, on January 12, 2022, Lily developed a high fever that soared to 105 degrees. Despite multiple visits to the doctor, Lily passed away four days after falling ill, the cause being renal failure attributed to the H1N1 virus.
Although Jenna isn’t entirely certain that the flu shot would have saved Lily, she believes it could have offered crucial protection. Now, Jenna is collaborating with the Fight the Flu Foundation to help prevent other families from experiencing similar heartache. “It’s been incredibly hard,” she shared, reflecting on her loss. “All I have left are memories and an urn on the mantle.” In her efforts to promote vaccination, Jenna has created informative brochures and even knitted over 700 baby hats, encouraging parents to vaccinate their children starting at six months, as recommended by the CDC. “I want my daughter’s legacy to endure,” she stated. “Being her legacy maker is my mission now.”
While the flu might not be deadly for every child, it’s certainly no picnic either. Symptoms like fever, chills, and body aches are no fun, and getting your child vaccinated could significantly decrease the chances of severe illness. According to a 2014 CDC study, the flu vaccine reduced the risk of hospitalization in children by 74% during flu seasons from 2010 to 2012.
It’s true that the flu shot isn’t foolproof; the CDC notes that recent studies show the vaccine lowers the risk of flu illness by about 50% to 60% in the general population during seasons when circulating viruses are similar to the vaccine strains. This can make parents hesitant—especially when it comes to pinning down a screaming, terrified child for a shot. But even if the odds aren’t perfect, that quick pinch could save your child from enduring the flu—or worse.
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Summary
Jenna Michaels transformed her tragedy into advocacy after losing her daughter, Lily, to flu complications. She is now actively promoting the importance of flu vaccinations to prevent similar heartache for other families. By collaborating with organizations and creating awareness materials, Jenna aims to honor her daughter’s memory while encouraging parents to protect their children against the flu.