A 4-year-old girl in Ohio fell into a coma and suffered severe brain damage after contracting the flu. Locklynn Boler first tested positive for the flu on February 21, but just three days later, she collapsed while using the bathroom at 4 am. Her parents, Haley and Bradley, performed CPR until they reached the hospital, where doctors were able to revive her heart after a couple of minutes.
However, the loss of oxygen to Locklynn’s brain was significant, leaving her in a coma with a “severe deep brain injury.” The family was told that she would never walk again, eat on her own, talk, or play with her siblings and cousins.
The flu can cause severe complications, including sepsis, cardiac issues, pneumonia, encephalitis, and multi-organ failure. Locklynn woke from her coma on March 2 but was removed from the ventilator three days later. Despite being “disabled,” she still has a long road to recovery.
Locklynn’s father expressed his dedication to his daughter, stating that he would do anything to have her sleep with him again. The family has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover medical expenses and make their home wheelchair accessible.
Source: https://people.com/flu-complications-girl-4-goes-into-cardiac-arrest-11689798