Posted on 06/24/2009 8:04:24 AM PDT by metmom
Within minutes, six-year-old Rubjit Thindal went from happily chatting in the back seat of the car to collapsing and dying in her father's arms.
"If we had known it was so serious, we would have called 911,'' Kuldip Thindal, Rubjit's distraught mother, said in Punjabi yesterday. "She just had a stomach ache -- she wasn't even crying.''
Rubjit was pronounced dead at hospital barely 24 hours after showing signs of a fever. Later, doctors told her parents she had the H1N1 influenza virus. She is believed to be the youngest person in Canada with the virus to have died.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.guelphmercury.com ...
As usual you are correct :)
Update:
Swine flu suspected in RI woman’s death
1:59 PM Tue, Nov 03, 2009
By Mike McKinney and Felice Freyer
Journal Staff Writers
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A woman died Monday of a suspected case of swine flu, Health Director David R. Gifford said Tuesday at a news briefing. He said she had several underlying illnesses and was between 40 and 50 years old. She was admitted to an unnamed hospital over the weekend.
If swine flu is found to be the culprit, she will be the third adult to die of the virus since it arrived here last spring. A woman between 40 and 60 died July 3 and an elderly man died Aug. 4. Both had underlying health conditions and lived in Providence County.
Since Sept. 1, 53 people in Rhode Island have been hospitalized with influenza.
Nationwide, about 70 percent of people hospitalized with swine flu have had a condition that increased their risk of complications, such as pregnancy or lung disease.
additional info about previously reported death in Kansas....
Update About H1N1-Related Death
Posted: Nov 03, 2009 6:33 PM EST
(WICHITA, Kan)
There is new information about a Wichita woman who had H1N1. Eyewitness News has learned she was a teacher for USD 259.
The state health department confirms the woman died Monday and had underlying health conditions.
The district says there’s no health concern at the school, because she had not been there for two weeks.
We asked the district if it informed parents about this. We’re told it’s no longer notifying the public of individual H1N1 cases. That started when H1N1 became widespread and the health department stopped testing the general public.
http://www.kansascw.com/Global/story.asp?S=11437506
On my spreadsheet I’ve now highlighted the educators in bright green in column I
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Ao5C2vb3M7MYdHN2b1RwZEp5anB2WWJUWklmZjdfZVE&hl=en
CA:
A new death reported in Kern County, California:
The Kern County DPHS website has updated, increasing its total of influenza deaths from 9 to 10 through Oct. 31.
http://www.co.kern.ca.us/health/H1N1flu.asp
Award-winning professor dies / Pneumonia complicated by H1N1 claims WSU educator
By Jessica Schreifels Miller (Standard-Examiner staff)
Last Edit: 3 days 3 hours ago (Oct 31 2009 - 11:18am)
OGDEN — When Weber State University junior Amber Foy went to math class Monday, her professor, Diane Pugmire, didn’t seem as excited as she usually was.
“There was something different about her,” Foy said. “I could tell she wasn’t feeling the best.”
But Pugmire still taught the class.
“She is kind of stubborn,” Foy said. “Nothing was going to get her down.”
Later that day, Pugmire was hospitalized at Ogden Regional Medical Center. She died Wednesday at the age of 52.
Her daughter Natalie said the family heard Thursday afternoon from Weber-Morgan Health Department that the cause of death was bacterial pneumonia with complications from H1N1.
Dale Ostlie, dean of the College of Science, said Pugmire’s death has been a shock to the WSU community.
“Diane was one of those faculty that every dean dreamed of having,” he said.
“This has really been an incredible shock for everyone who knew her. She is going to be very deeply missed. She is one of those faculty who is almost irreplaceable.”
Pugmire had been a professor at Weber State since 1984, with classes ranging from basic math to teaching elementary education students how to teach math to students.
She, along with her colleague Dixie Blackinton, was recognized last week as Educator of the Year by the Utah Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Students said Pugmire was a professor who cared personally about every student in her classes.
“She was just able to make us feel that we were important to her and she loved us,” Foy said. “She loved her students more than words can explain, and she loved the department.”
Husband and wife Kyle and Ashly Fusselman each took courses from Pugmire.
Kyle, a pre-med student, took trigonometry, and Ashly, an elementary education major, took advanced math courses to learn how to teach math.
“She was just an absolutely amazing person all the way around,” Ashly said. “I’ve had a lot of math professors, and she was by far the best. She was so kind, and she would do anything for her students to help them pass.”
Kyle said Pugmire loved math and loved to help students better understand the subject.
“The thing I noticed most about her was, it was important to her that her students were successful,” he said. “You could tell by the way she talked that that was important to her.”
Ostlie said Pugmire affected thousands of students during her tenure at WSU.
Foy said she was one of them and strives to be a great teacher like Pugmire was.
“One of the first few days I had her (in class), I decided I wanted to be that kind of person she is to her students,” she said. “She would uplift me in math. People looked up to her.”
Funeral services for Pugmire will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the Riverdale Stake Center, 4000 Parker Drive. Viewing will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday and from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Monday at the stake center.
The family is putting together a memory book and is asking those who knew Pugmire to e-mail stories or tributes to dianepugmire@gmail.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Diane Pugmire Scholarship Foundation, in care of Lisa Largent, Weber State University Development Office, 4018 University Circle, Ogden UT 84408-4018.
a new death in Macon County, Illinois....
First H1N1-related death reported in Macon County
Staff Report | Posted: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 4:45 pm
An elderly resident from the area has died from H1N1-related complications.
According to a Macon County Health Department news release issued Tuesday afternoon, the person, whose name was not included in the release, had underlying health issues that exacerbated the influenza complications.
In respect of the family’s privacy, local health officials did not have a lot of specific information to give, but they did encourage those in the five priority groups for the vaccine to consider vaccination. Doses currently are available for pregnant women, household contacts and caregivers of infants younger than 6 months old, health care and emergency personnel, those 6 months through 24 years old and people 25 through 64 with chronic medical conditions.
These groups continue to be most affected by H1N1, the release stated. Currently, the median age of those hospitalized with H1N1 locally is 9.
Local health officials are urging those who experience flulike symptoms to contact their individual healthcare providers to determine the best course of treatment. For more information on H1N1 or scheduled vaccination clinics, call the Macon County Health Department at 423-6988 or visit its Web site, www.maconcountyhealth.org.
The Macon County Health Department is hosting an H1N1 vaccination clinic Tuesday night at Mount Zion Intermediate School, located at 310 S. Henderson St. in Mount Zion. The clinic, serving pregnant women, household contacts and caregivers of children younger than 6 months old, health care and emergency personnel, people 3 through 24 and those 25 through 64 with chronic health conditions, will last until 7 p.m.
This story will be updated.
http://www.herald-review.com/news/local/article_7e72a6a4-64e6-5154-9750-45339771990e.html
CO:
Eight new deaths reported in Colorado:
The Colorado DPHE website has raised its total of influenza deaths from 25 to 34, through 10/31. All of the deaths were adults. 99.9% of all flu being tested in CO is H1N1.
In order to correct a previous bookkeeping error, I am only adding eight deaths to my spreadsheet, to bring my total in line with the state’s total.
http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/dc/Influenza/09-10_Deaths_Linelist.pdf
additional info on previously reported death....
Lewis & Clark grad student, 25, among latest Oregon swine flu victims
By Noelle Crombie, The Oregonian
November 03, 2009, 3:34PM
A graduate student at Lewis & Clark College in Southwest Portland whose friends knew him as “Chewie” is among the latest Oregonians to die in connection with the H1N1 flu virus.
The father of Kristopher Kerstiens said his son died early Saturday of respiratory complications from H1N1. He had been hospitalized at Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center for a week prior to his death.
Kevin Kerstiens said his son was healthy and had no chronic health conditions. He said Kris was a graduate of Beaverton High School and Oregon State University, and had played football at Beaverton.
His Facebook page displays photos of him traveling and spending time with friends.
Most recently, Kris Kerstiens, 25, was a graduate student at Lewis & Clark, where he was studying to be a history teacher.
On Oct. 18, Kerstiens called his parents in Southwest Portland as he drove home with a cousin from a Seattle Seahawks game. He complained of not feeling well.
Worried he had the flu, he asked his parents to come over that night.
For the next week, Kerstiens’ mother, Joyce, and his father kept a close eye on their son, visiting him daily, taking him to the doctor and the Meridian Park emergency room. He was feverish, lethargic and lacked an appetite, his father said.
By Saturday, Oct. 24, Kris Kerstiens, stricken with a 103-degree fever, told his parents he wanted to go to the hospital. He said his lungs were sore and he was worried about his persistent fever. The Kerstiens took their son to Meridian Park, where doctors determined he had fluid on his lungs. Doctors suspected Kerstiens had developed pneumonia.
He was admitted as a patient and later that day he was moved to the intensive care unit.
Kerstiens continued to deteriorate.
“He was so tired,” Kerstiens said. “He could barely function.”
Kerstiens’ doctors suggested that he be placed on a ventilator to give his lungs time to heal. Though he was extremely weak, Kerstiens was conscious and alert and gave his doctors the go-ahead to put him on a ventilator on Sunday, Oct. 25.
But Kerstiens struggled as the week progressed. He showed no sign of improvement. He was placed on dialysis. Kerstiens’ body was shutting down.
Though their son was unconscious – he was in a medically induced state of unconsciousness while on the ventilator – the Kerstiens kept encouraging their son.
“We were praying,” said Kerstiens. “We were talking to him and telling him to put up the good fight.”
But by late Friday night, Kerstiens’ prognosis was grim. At 2:40 a.m. Saturday, he died.
Kevin Kerstiens said his son was vibrant and healthy. He baked bread, made beer, and traveled the world. He was curious and passionate about his interests. He is survived by his parents and his sister, Kelsey, 21.
“He was an amazing guy,” Kerstiens said. “He crammed a huge life into 25 years.”
Scott Fletcher, dean of Lewis & Clark’s Graduate School of Education and Counseling, sent out a note to students calling Kerstiens’ death “a heart wrenching loss.”
“It calls upon our deepest commitment to the shared bonds of the Graduate School community as we stand together to honor Kris and offer our support to his family.”
“As we work together to comprehend this tragedy, I hope you will take a moment to reflect on your capacity to be a force for grace and renewal in the world,” Fletcher wrote. “We all depend on it.”
Meanwhile, area health officials also reported that David Hill, 44, of McMinnville died from the virus last Wednesday. Health officials said he was the first person in Yamhill County to die in connection with the virus.
A diabetic, he was recovering from a heart attack.
According to the Oregon Department of Human Services, 745 people in Oregon have been hospitalized with influenza-like symptoms since Sept. 1 and 20 people have died.
—Noelle Crombie
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/11/lewis_clark_grad_student_25_am.html
Tuesday, 03 November 2009 6:06PM
Swine Flu Could Get Worse
Rebecca Pepin Reporting
rpepin@foxtricities.com
Local health leaders say a second wave of the H1-N1 flu appears to have reached its peak, but now they are bracing for a third wave that could hit even harder. That third wave is expected to hit the U.S. in the next 12 to 14 weeks.
“Time limits can vary but there will be a third wave and our goal is to vaccinate as many people as possible to change the height of this third wave that will come,” said Dr. Stephen May with the Sullivan County Health Department. Dr. May said that a third wave of the flu pandemic in 1918 affected the most people.
http://www.wcyb.com/pages/5590229.php?contentType=4&contentId=4985595
MI
http://www.freep.com/article/20091103/NEWS05/911030320/?imw=Y
Posted: Nov. 3, 2009
H1N1 flu vaccine shortage possible in Michigan
State need exceeds the allocated doses
BY MEGHA SATYANARAYANA
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misidentified a health system that is limiting visitors. This report is correct.
State health officials said Monday that there are fewer than 1 million doses of H1N1 vaccine allocated to Michigan right now, but there are 5 million people — about half of those in the state — who are high-risk individuals in need of the vaccine.
In other states, the vaccine is trickling in as officials try to meet the needs of high-risk populations.
As orders are placed and fulfilled by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “we’re getting it out as quickly as possible,” said Bob Swanson, Michigan Department of Community Health director of the immunization division. “Orders are placed on a daily basis.”
Since Sept. 1, there have been 396 H1N1-related hospitalizations and 16 deaths, all adults, in Michigan. Most of the people hospitalized have had underlying medical conditions. It’s unusual to see this much flu so soon, said Dr. Greg Holzman, chief medical officer for the state health department. “We’re seeing numbers you might see at the peak of a bad flu season,” he said.
Federal health officials announced initial results of clinical trials in pregnant women Monday. At day 21 after immunization, 47 of 50 pregnant women had an immune response predicted to be protective. Further analysis of clinical trials in children supported the recommendation of two doses of the vaccine to achieve best protection.
As the virus continues to spread, and vaccine is still in short supply, the University of Michigan and St. Joseph Mercy health systems are limiting visitors to those older than 16 who have no flu symptoms.
Admitted patients can have only two visitors at a time. This affects hospitals and treatment facilities in the U-M health system and at St. Joseph Mercy locations in Ann Arbor, Livingston County, Oakland County and Saline and at St. Mary Mercy Hospital in Livonia and Chelsea Community Hospital.
Contact MEGHA SATYANARAYANA: 313-223-4544 or megha@freepress.com
MI
http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/michigan/Some_hospitals_dont_require_vaccines
Some hospitals don’t require vaccines
Other hospital policies mandate employee shots
Updated: Tuesday, 03 Nov 2009, 7:11 PM EST
Published : Tuesday, 03 Nov 2009, 6:08 PM EST
By Jessica Leffler
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - The decision on whether to require hospital employees to receive the either seasonal or swine flu vaccinations is up to each West Michigan facility.
Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo requires all employees to receive certain vaccinations. About 75 percent of the hospital’s employees have received the seasonal and H1N1 vaccines. Bronson is working to ensure every employee in each department of the hospital gets his or her shots to protect against the flu.
“It was our job to protect as many employees as we could and allocate that vaccine,” said Dr. Richard VanEnk, Bronson Hospital’s Director of Infection and Epidemiology. “So, the key there is, you need to have all of your departments that are essential to your (business) functioning, covered and protected.”
After Hurricane Katrina, Bronson upgraded its emergency preparedness plan. VanEnk said mandating vaccines is a “minimum work requirement.”
At Saint Mary’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, about 86 percent of the employees have been vaccinated, a spokesperson told 24 Hour News 8. The hospital does not mandate shot vaccinations — seasonal or H1N1 — but “strongly encourages it.”
Mercy General Health Partners in Muskegon and Borgess Hospital have similar policies to Saint Mary’s — vaccinations aren’t required but encouraged.
Metro Hospital in Grand Rapids does not require seasonal or H1N1 vaccines, and if an employee doesn’t want a shot, he or she must fill out a form stating a reason.
Battle Creek Health Systems mandates vaccinations, but people can be excused for religious, medical or personal reasons. If someone is cleared to go without the vaccine for his or her reasons, the employee has to wear a mask at all times while at work and eat in a separate area. The vaccine has been mandated for about two years, said Peter Phelps, a public relations spokesman.
In 2008, 93 percent of Battle Creek’s employees received the seasonal flu vaccine and 7 percent got a waiver. The specific reasons the 7 percent of employees gave are not known.
MI
http://www.annarbor.com/news/post-22/
Huron Valley Catholic School in Ypsilanti closes for week because of widespread illness, likely swine flu
Posted: Today, 3 hours ago
Huron Valley Catholic School in Ypsilanti will be closed until next Monday due to large numbers of staff and student out sick, likely because of swine flu.
It is the first school in the county to close due to widespread illness. The school had an absenteeism rate of more than 30 percent Monday, the county health department said.
School and health department officials made the decision to close for the week.
The Ypsilanti school is one of more than 500 schools to close due to the flu in the past month.
It’s unclear whether more school closures will occur in the coming days or weeks, said county health department epidemiologist Laura Bauman.
“Some schools (in the county) have gotten up to 20 percent absentee rate, and then it’s gotten better again,” Bauman said. “We have to wait and see. But I think its likely this will not be the only school closure.”
County health officials aren’t concerned students off from school will flood public areas and might increase the rate the H1N1 flu has been spreading through the county.
While those with symptoms of the flu are being strongly encouraged to stay home, the flu virus is already out in the community, and it’s not expected a single school would increase that rate much, Bauman said.
Public health officials have said reported school illness rates have surpassed peak levels for a typical seasonal flu season, which usually peaks in January or February.
There have been 31 hospitalizations of Washtenaw County residents since the end of August due to the H1N1 flu virus - 15 of which occurred last week. No deaths of Washtenaw County residents due to the H1N1 flu virus have occurred.
For updates on the H1N1 flu virus and the vaccination clinic schedule, visit www.ewashtenaw.org/flu. To have more detailed questions answered, contact public health nurses and educators at 734-544-6700.
Tina Reed covers health and the environment for AnnArbor.com. You can reach her at tinareed@annarbor.com, call her at 734-623-2535 or find her on Twitter @TreedinAA.
Hattip missouriwatcher / PFI Homebody
When revisiting the website for daily attendance at NYC Schools, even though overall attendance is at about 90%, look at individual areas and schools:
Manhattan: 8 schools 70-74%; 3 schools 60-69%; lowest attendance 56.89%
Bronx: 3 schools 70-74%; 2 schools 60-69%; lowest attendance 57.58%
Brooklyn: 7 schools 70-74%; 4 schools 60-69%; 3 schools 50-59%; lowest attendance 46.53%
Queens: 2 schools @ 74%
50 schools did not report attendance today
http://trancy.net/nyc-school-attendance/
a new death in McLean County, Illinois...
18-year-old man becomes McLean Co.’s 2nd H1N1 fatality
By Paul Swiech | pswiech@pantagraph.com | Posted: Tuesday, November 3, 2009 7:10 pm | No Comments Posted
BLOOMINGTON — An 18-year-old male who died Tuesday was McLean County’s second H1N1 influenza fatality.
The McLean County Health Department announced Tuesday evening that the man was admitted to a local hospital on Oct. 17 and later transferred to the intensive care unit.
The man had underlying medical conditions, as did the county’s first H1N1 victim, the health department said. A 56-year-old woman died Oct. 22.
Meanwhile, the number of confirmed cases of the novel virus continues to rise. In McLean County, 32 people have been confirmed as having the virus, health department spokeswoman Jan Morris said.
Statewide, 731 people have been hospitalized and 28 people have died of H1N1, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health.
But health officials have said that the confirmed cases are people who have been hospitalized and have had a test to confirm the diagnosis. Many more people have had H1N1 but weren’t sick enough to be hospitalized.
“It is likely we will see additional cases,” health department Director Walt Howe said. “All efforts are being made to dispense the H1N1 vaccine as soon as it is made available to the health department.”
Howe urged everyone to wash their hands, cough and sneeze into their sleeves and stay home when they’re sick. Anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms — fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue — should stay home and call their doctor.
About 4,700 people were vaccinated at the health department’s two public H1N1 flu vaccination clinics during the past two weeks. Howe said another public clinic would be scheduled when the next shipment of injection vaccine arrives.
Meanwhile, the health department announced late Tuesday that it will have an H1N1 intranasal vaccination clinic for McLean County health care providers only from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Calvary United Methodist Church, 1700 N. Towanda Ave., Normal. The nasal spray vaccine is for healthy people ages 2 through 49 who aren’t pregnant.
Health care providers will have to show proof of employment.
http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/article_16198cf2-c8df-11de-b1fd-001cc4c03286.html
Swine-Flu Deaths Higher in the Elderly
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703740004574513903595607412.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLTopStories
By JENNIFER CORBETT DOOREN * NOVEMBER 4, 2009
People age 50 and older who were hospitalized with the swine flu in California had the highest fatality rate from the illness, while those younger than 18 had the lowest death rates.
Researchers from the California Department of Public Health looked at 1,088 cases of hospitalization and death attributed to H1N1 from April 23—shortly after the virus was discovered—through Aug. 11.
The findings will be published in this week’s Journal of the American Medical Association.
While hospitalization rates in California were highest for infants and young adults ages 18 to 29 and lower for older people, the findings suggest older people who are hospitalized are more likely to die.
“Despite reports that elderly persons may be ‘protected’ by pre-existing immunity, clinicians should closely monitor and promptly treat hospitalized patients with pandemic 2009 influenza A H1N1 infection,” researchers wrote.
Still, similar to statistics collected by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, data in California show H1N1 is hitting young people harder than what’s typically seen for seasonal flu. The median age of hospitalized patients in California was 27.
OH
Springfield woman who died from H1N1 identified
Updated 7:05 PM Tuesday, November 3, 2009
SPRINGFIELD — Tasha Robinson, 26, of Springfield, died as a result of the H1N1 virus, health officials confirmed today.
“I am very saddened to share the news that we have had our first death due to H1N1 flu in our community,” said Charles Patterson, Health Commissioner. “A 26 year old woman died from the H1N1 flu this past Tuesday, October 27th. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the young woman. We are very sorry for their loss.”
[snip]
S. Korea to suspend reserve force training over flu concerns
By Sam Kim
SEOUL, Nov. 4 (Yonhap) — South Korea’s defense ministry said Wednesday it will suspend training for the reserve force through the end of this month to help curb the spread of Influenza A (H1N1).
South Korea operates one of the largest reserve forces in the region, with all men subject to related training for several years after they are discharged from mandatory armed service.
“The reserve force training will be suspended from Thursday through the end of November,” the Ministry of National Defense said in a statement.
“The measure is aimed at minimizing the impact of the new flu,” which spreads more easily in group environments, it said.
The suspension comes after more than 40 South Koreans have died from the H1N1 virus, which prompted the government this week to raise the national epidemic alert to the highest level.
Winter weather is believed to have caused a spike in H1N1 flu cases, with some experts warning 60,000-100,000 new cases could be confirmed per week in the near term.
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2009/11/04/51/0301000000AEN20091104002700315F.HTML
CO
Woman suffering from H1N1 virus on life support
Young Cañon mother in ICU in Colo. Springs
Debbie Bell
The Daily Record
A young Cañon City wife and mother is clinging to life in a Colorado Springs intensive care unit, as she fights to ward off complications from the H1N1 virus.
Kayla Kammrad, 22, has been on life support at Penrose Hospital for the past 11 days. She was admitted into the St. Thomas More Hospital ICU more than two weeks ago and spent a full week there before her transfer via ambulance.
Her family now is urging everyone to obtain the H1N1 vaccine as soon as possible and not wait to seek medical assistance if flu-like symptoms appear.
The daughter of Mike Williams and Suzie Williams, both of Cañon City, Kayla started to show flu-like symptoms three or four days before she was admitted to the local hospital, according to her father. No one else in the family has shown signs of the virus.
“Her heart is very strong,” Williams said Monday. “Her vital organs are very strong. The difficulty is her lungs keep filling with fluid. Sunday was the fourth time she’s actually shut completely down, and the hospital has brought her back.”
Kayla’s husband, Jeff Kammrad, was recalled from a National Guard tour in Iraq to come home and be with his wife. His emergency leave continues as Kammrad stays by his wife’s side whenever possible. He cares for their sons, Jordan, 4, and Tanner, 2, with the aid of the boys’ grandparents.
“We’re starting to see some signs of stress, but we’re trying to keep everything as normal for them as possible,” Williams said. “We’ve got a well-organized system going.”
The boys also continue to attend preschool.
In addition to his service in the National Guard, Kammrad is an employee of the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Florence. Williams said Kayla currently is covered under military insurance, but the family is unsure how long Kammrad will be on emergency military leave.
Kayla attended Cañon City schools and recently was hired at Southern Peaks Regional Treatment Center, where she had begun training for her new position. Before that she worked at Rocky Mountain Children’s Discovery Center. Kayla also is a full-time student at Pueblo Community College, where she is studying early childhood development.
“That girl is working a full-time job, enrolled in college and taking care of two boys,” her father said. “She is bubbly, fun, just trying to keep everything afloat while Jeff was overseas. Sometimes, it’s kind of unfair for a young mother to carry all of that.”
Her parents are helping all they can, but Williams recently was laid off from Holcim (US) Inc., and Suzie Williams works at a local meat processing plant, which mostly is seasonal work.
“Our resources are very limited,” Williams said.
Although many of Kayla’s medical expenses are covered, her family is in need of financial assistance to help cover the costs of traveling back and forth to the hospital and the associated costs. They already have begun to receive aid from friends and support groups in the community, and Williams struggled with emotions while expressing his deep gratitude.
“I had no idea that Kayla and Jeff’s family reached out to so many,” Williams said. “With the economy the way it is now, for people to donate freely the way they have, is probably the most unselfish thing I have ever experienced. Without hesitation, people who are struggling have reached into their own pockets. That reconfirms my belief in Fremont County.”
Williams is uncertain what his daughter’s prognosis is. He said physicians have told the family they have done everything medically possible.
“There have been so many people who have contacted us, telling they have started prayer chains,” he said. “Everybody is doing what they can do. She is in higher hands now.”
The family has established an account to help with medical and other expenses at Pueblo Bank and Trust. Donations can be made at any branch to the “Kayla Kammrad” fund.
http://www.canoncitydailyrecord.com/Top-Story.asp?ID=12145
thanks , for the up-date .
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