What started as a routine emergency room visit one February afternoon turned into a devastating experience for Lauren Caggiano. The 49-year-old paralegal from Oceanside, Calif., was given a positive flu test. However, just two days later she passed away due to COVID complications, shocking family and friends. Caggiano was a new grandmother and loved her two dogs. Prior to her infection, she had appeared healthy.
We know the flu virus is bad. Yet every year, it still kills more than 36,000 Americans and sends hundreds of thousands more to emergency rooms across the country. Caggiano’s case illuminates the cruel and capricious nature of the flu, especially for people who are young and healthy. Within 24 hours of being diagnosed, she needed a ventilator as her health severely worsened.
Mark Walsh’s story is a heartbreaking reminder of just how quickly flu complications can turn dangerous. Walsh had succumbed in February after a combination of the flu and strep throat had resulted in sepsis. His wife, Christine Walsh, remains in shock over their unexpected loss, still having difficulty accepting that he is gone.
“I’m still just in shock that this is even real life.” – Christine Walsh
As these two cases show, flu can turn deadly in a matter of days and produce surprising and tragic outcomes. Though most people will bounce back from flu in a few days, some suffer extreme symptoms and need hospitalization for weeks. In rare cases, even healthy people can develop life-threatening complications.
Brandon Salgado, a longtime friend of Caggiano’s, spoke about how surreal it was for things to turn out this way.
“You don’t really think, if you’re in decent health, that’s going to be what gets you.” – Brandon Salgado
While Lauren Caggiano and Mark Walsh are happy survivors, their stories should be a reminder of the flu’s possible dangers. Health officials want people to be on guard this flu season. This guidance is really important, especially for people who don’t typically consider themselves to be at risk.
