Abdelrahman
Mary Edging and Jimmy Vernon are heartbroken as they prepare to say goodbye to their beloved 9-year-old daughter, Madeline Vernon, who tragically passed away due to complications from the flu last month.
“On the morning of Tuesday, January 28th, she woke up with a fever of 104.9 degrees,” Edging recounted. “We brought her back to urgent care after I took her to the hospital the previous night, where it was confirmed that her lungs were severely infected.”
Sadly, Madeline passed away the following day, January 29th. Her family fondly remembers her as a lively child who loved engaging in sports.
“It feels like a part of my heart has been torn away. I have truly lost a piece of myself,” Edging expressed in her grief.
Dr. Daniel Park, the medical director of the pediatric emergency department at UNC Medical Center, described Madeline’s death as a heartbreaking loss. He informed WRAL News that we are currently in the height of flu season, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with flu cases reaching the highest point in 15 years.
“Individuals who are very young, elderly, or have chronic health conditions—especially those who are immunocompromised or reliant on medical technology like tracheostomy tubes or ventilators—are at significantly higher risk for severe illness. This is reflected in the emergency departments,” Park noted.
He urges everyone aged 6 months and older to take necessary precautions.
“Preventative measures are vital,” Park said. “It’s never too late to receive the flu vaccine, even in the midst of the flu season.”
According to Edging, her daughter did not receive her flu shot, and she strongly advocates for others to get vaccinated.
Madeline’s passing comes amid reports that two children aged 5 to 17 have succumbed to the flu this season in North Carolina.
This past year, over 300 flu-related fatalities were reported in North Carolina, including the tragic deaths of 16 children.
Research shows that receiving the flu vaccine can reduce your risk of infection by 50%. This year’s vaccine is effective against two strains of influenza A and influenza B.
