Four years dies of the flu

A mother whose four-year-old son died of the flu exhorts the others to be vaccinated.

In December 2017, Laura Sidari's son Leon became ill with what the military doctor considered a cold. With only two days left before Christmas, Sidari gave his son chicken and noodle soup while watching cartoons on the family's sofa, fighting fever and some body aches.

The next morning, Leon was taken to hospital after waking up with a "barking" cough and had trouble breathing. Upon arrival, the doctors admitted Leon to the USI where he was diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia and influenza.

As his son's condition worsened, Sidari feared the worst.

<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "LOOKS ALSO: Parenting during the pediatric anxiety epidemic"data-reactid =" 26 ">LOOKS ALSO: Parenting during the pediatric anxiety epidemic

<p class = "canvas-atom-canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "" At the hospital, there was a time when my brain knew my son was dying, but my heart simply did not know it, "said Sidari PEOPLE magazine. "During my medical training, I remember similar moments in the context of critical care, where death was approaching like a train heading for its final destination. However, as a mother, nothing can prepare you to watch your child die. "" Data-reactid = "27"> "At the hospital, a time came when my brain knew that my son was dying, but my heart simply did not, said Sidari PEOPLE magazine. "During my medical training, I remember similar moments in the context of critical care, where death was approaching like a train heading for its final destination. However, as a mother, nothing can prepare you to watch your child die.

Leon died on Christmas day, less than 48 hours after the onset of his symptoms.

"In the end, there was just a shock, horror, a feeling of helplessness and unbearable pain," said the 32-year-old mother. "I remember my last moments with him, crying in his blond hair and kissing him goodbye."

Sidari said his son should receive the flu shot in the coming weeks. Its mission is to encourage parents to ensure that their children receive the influenza vaccine, which hopefully will prevent another tragedy.

<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = ""Last year, if I had seen a story like mine, I would have given priority to the influenza vaccine. As a doctor, even though I was not aware of the significant risk that the flu represented for my healthy child. By reaching out to other people, including other doctors' parents, I discovered that I am not alone in this misconception. ""data-reactid =" 42 ">"Last year, if I had seen a story like mine, I would have given priority to the influenza vaccine. As a doctor, even though I was not aware of the significant risk that the flu represented for my healthy child. By reaching out to other people, including other doctors' parents, I discovered that I am not alone in this misconception. "

<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "LOOKS ALSO: A five-year-old child sent to the hospital after a caterpillar sting"data-reactid =" 43 ">LOOKS ALSO: A five-year-old child sent to the hospital after a caterpillar sting

More

Earlier this month, Sidari shared Facebook photos of her husband and two sons who were vaccinated in Leon's memory with the #FluShotsForLeon hashtag.

According to the Center for Disease Control, the flu causes up to 35 million illnesses each year, just in the United States. The CDC reports that about 56,000 people died from flu complications during the 2012-2013 influenza season. The influenza vaccine can reduce the chances of getting one's flu by up to 60%.

Sidari's Facebook post has been shared more than 21,000 times, with people sharing photos of themselves receiving vaccines.

<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = ""Leon has turned me into a mother. He turned my husband and I from a couple into a family, "says Sidari. "When we take care of our children as parents, we give them pieces of ourselves that can not be rendered. In losing Leon, I lost a part of myself. He touched all the fibers of my being and is never far from my heart. ""data-reactid =" 58 ">"Leon has turned me into a mother. He turned my husband and I from a couple into a family, "says Sidari. "When we take care of our children as parents, we give them pieces of ourselves that can not be rendered. In losing Leon, I lost a part of myself. He touched all the fibers of my being and is never far from my heart. "

<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "Tell us what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA!
follow us on Twitter and Instagram."data-reactid =" 59 ">Tell us what you think by commenting below and tweeting @YahooStyleCA!
follow us on Twitter and Instagram.

<p class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "Check out Yahoo Canada's Make It Reign podcast – our passion for all royals in a non-stifling way – on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts. "data-reactid =" 60 ">Check out Yahoo Canada's Make It Reign podcast – our passion for all royals in a non-stifling way – on Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.

<figure class = "canvas-atom canvas-text Mb (1.0em) Mb (0) – sm Mt (0.8em) – sm" type = "text" content = "
"data-reactid =" 61 ">