My grandfather got the flu in 1918, but thankfully he recovered. Otherwise, I would not be here.
My husbands grandmother lost her husband and 5 year old son in the same week due to the flu. She went on to raise her other three sons and daughter alone. Never ever accepted charity.
And thank goodness for that. :)
My father got the flu one afternoon, and the doctor never came back after the first visit. Later, when asked why, he said he didn’t expect the boy to be alive in the morning.