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Source: http://www.kktv.com/morenews/headlines/63821842.html
Updated: 9:33 PM Oct 8, 2009
13-year-old's Death Linked to H1N1
Health problems from the H1N1 virus may have cut short the life of a 13-year-old boy from Black Forest.
Posted: 9:33 PM Oct 8, 2009
Reporter: Rick Montanez
Email Address: RMontanez@kktv.com
Health problems from the H1N1 virus may have cut short the life of a 13-year-old boy from Black Forest.
Matthew Washburn and 5 of his brothers and sisters came down with flu-like symptoms a little more than a week ago. Matthew ended up in the hospital with pneumonia, then his lungs started to fail. Wednesday, he was taken off life support
To comprehend Matthew's death, you really have to understand his life. "He's never been able to run and jump and play," said Lorraine Almond.
When Matthew just a month old, he was a shaken baby, he suffered severe brain damage , he also lost his sight and his hearing.
Several years later, Matthew was adopted by the Washburns and he was finally in a loving home. "Matthew's life has a purpose," said Jackie Washburn, in an 11 News interview in May.
11 News did a special report in May, on shaken baby syndrome. Jackie Washburn and Matthew showed us their daily struggles. They are the same struggles they shared with future parents in presentations at schools. "As Jackie would talk, Matthew would be sitting there, being Matthew. And people would actually see what happens when you shake a baby. And sometimes it wasn't a pretty sight. It was Matthew's way of saying 'please don't ever do this again, it hurts," said Almond.
"His purpose was to make life better for people," said Washburn.
Nearly two weeks ago, the Washburns were hit hard by the H1N1 virus. Then, Jackie showed us how the family's already tough routine was disrupted.
A few days later, Jackie sent 11 News a photo of Matthew after he caught pneumonia.
"When Matthew was in the hospital, we thought we lost him the first night, and they put him on the ventilator," said Almond.
As the days passed, Matthew's lungs and kidneys weakened. "He started to fail and they said that his x-rays had gotten worse and he wasn't going to get better," said Almond.
Then, the Wishbones made the toughest decision any parent could ever face, Matthew was taken off life support. "There was probably 18 people there from the family and friends and we just talked with him and told story about him and prayed with him. [We] gently waited until Jesus took his hand," said Almond.
Back in May, Jackie talked about her faith, her hope for the day Matthew would make it to a better place. "He would have wings, and he would run and jump. And he could splash in puddles and he could run with kids, and feel the wind in his hair," said Washburn.
"We're gonna miss Matthew, we're gonna miss that toothy smile," said Almond.
Matthew tested positive for influenza "a". When he was taken to the hospital, doctors ran further tests for H1N1. Memorial hospital representatives tell 11 News they don't have the results back yet, but they're hoping to have them by the end of the week. The coroner?s office said an autopsy will be performed on Matthew, the results of that should be known in a few weeks.
One of the other Washburn children, Hope, is still suffering from complications linked to the H1N1 virus.
Updated: 9:33 PM Oct 8, 2009
13-year-old's Death Linked to H1N1
Health problems from the H1N1 virus may have cut short the life of a 13-year-old boy from Black Forest.
Posted: 9:33 PM Oct 8, 2009
Reporter: Rick Montanez
Email Address: RMontanez@kktv.com
Health problems from the H1N1 virus may have cut short the life of a 13-year-old boy from Black Forest.
Matthew Washburn and 5 of his brothers and sisters came down with flu-like symptoms a little more than a week ago. Matthew ended up in the hospital with pneumonia, then his lungs started to fail. Wednesday, he was taken off life support
To comprehend Matthew's death, you really have to understand his life. "He's never been able to run and jump and play," said Lorraine Almond.
When Matthew just a month old, he was a shaken baby, he suffered severe brain damage , he also lost his sight and his hearing.
Several years later, Matthew was adopted by the Washburns and he was finally in a loving home. "Matthew's life has a purpose," said Jackie Washburn, in an 11 News interview in May.
11 News did a special report in May, on shaken baby syndrome. Jackie Washburn and Matthew showed us their daily struggles. They are the same struggles they shared with future parents in presentations at schools. "As Jackie would talk, Matthew would be sitting there, being Matthew. And people would actually see what happens when you shake a baby. And sometimes it wasn't a pretty sight. It was Matthew's way of saying 'please don't ever do this again, it hurts," said Almond.
"His purpose was to make life better for people," said Washburn.
Nearly two weeks ago, the Washburns were hit hard by the H1N1 virus. Then, Jackie showed us how the family's already tough routine was disrupted.
A few days later, Jackie sent 11 News a photo of Matthew after he caught pneumonia.
"When Matthew was in the hospital, we thought we lost him the first night, and they put him on the ventilator," said Almond.
As the days passed, Matthew's lungs and kidneys weakened. "He started to fail and they said that his x-rays had gotten worse and he wasn't going to get better," said Almond.
Then, the Wishbones made the toughest decision any parent could ever face, Matthew was taken off life support. "There was probably 18 people there from the family and friends and we just talked with him and told story about him and prayed with him. [We] gently waited until Jesus took his hand," said Almond.
Back in May, Jackie talked about her faith, her hope for the day Matthew would make it to a better place. "He would have wings, and he would run and jump. And he could splash in puddles and he could run with kids, and feel the wind in his hair," said Washburn.
"We're gonna miss Matthew, we're gonna miss that toothy smile," said Almond.
Matthew tested positive for influenza "a". When he was taken to the hospital, doctors ran further tests for H1N1. Memorial hospital representatives tell 11 News they don't have the results back yet, but they're hoping to have them by the end of the week. The coroner?s office said an autopsy will be performed on Matthew, the results of that should be known in a few weeks.
One of the other Washburn children, Hope, is still suffering from complications linked to the H1N1 virus.
