The flu, a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses, has struck a devastating blow to a young family in Ohio. Four-year-old Locklynn, once a lively and spirited child, has been left fighting for her life after developing severe complications from the flu. The illness, which can range from mild to severe, spreads through tiny droplets when infected individuals cough, sneeze, or talk.
Locklynn's ordeal began when she showed symptoms typical of the flu—fever, chills, and a cough. However, her condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to a severe brain injury known as hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, characterized by muscle spasms. Her father, Bradley Boler, recounts the harrowing transformation from "daddy's girl" to someone nearly unrecognizable.
"It's pretty crazy. It's like, I wake up to the nightmare." – Bradley Boler
The family rushed Locklynn to Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, where doctors found her condition critical. Dr. Marlina Lovett detailed the severity of Locklynn's condition upon her arrival.
"When she arrived to our hospital, she had a breathing tube in place," – Dr. Marlina Lovett
"She was on the ventilator. She was essentially unresponsive and she was very critical at that point in time." – Dr. Marlina Lovett
Locklynn's battle with the flu took another turn for the worse when she developed pneumonia, leading to a collapse at home. As Boler drove his family to the hospital, his fiancée and sister performed CPR and compressions, but Locklynn was without oxygen for at least four minutes before they successfully resuscitated her.
"She jumps up out of the bed and runs to the bathroom. And then she collapsed right before she got to the bathroom door and it looked like she was having like, a seizure," – Bradley Boler
"I picked her up, and then I realized that she wasn't breathing." – Bradley Boler
Dr. Lovett expressed concerns about Locklynn's long-term prognosis. Despite being alive, the effects of the brain injury could be life-altering.
"There are concerns about her ability to control her body with movements, how awake she'll be long-term," – Dr. Marlina Lovett
"We don't know how interactive she'll be with her parents. We suspect that she'll probably need a feeding tube all her life and she'll probably be wheelchair bound and unable to walk." – Dr. Marlina Lovett
In the face of this grim outlook, Boler and his family remain hopeful. They cling to each moment of improvement as they await what Locklynn's recovery journey will reveal.
"But some of the other stuff, we just need more time to see what Locklynn's recovery can be." – Dr. Marlina Lovett
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes the importance of flu vaccination as a preventive measure against such severe complications. Children under five, especially those under two, are particularly vulnerable to serious outcomes like those faced by Locklynn.
Boler hopes sharing their story will underscore the gravity of flu risks and encourage others to take preventive actions.
"If one person sees what I'm talking about and is like, 'Look at their kid,' and like, 'Maybe we need to go to the doctor,' and it saves that kid's life, then I feel like I have [an] obligation to do that," – Bradley Boler
