Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.kob.com/article/stories/S1110952.shtml?cat=516
Posted at: 08/28/2009 6:36 PM
By: Eric Kahnert, Eyewitness News 4; Charlie Pabst, KOB.com
Family of woman with H1N1 knows threat is real
Family members say that a custodian at Albuquerque's Sunport is in a hospital with the H1N1 virus. Although she had other pre-existing medical issues, her family says that H1N1 is a very serious threat.
52-year-old Katie Francia's children say they were given the bad news last weekend?when Francia was in a coma.
KOB.com's Feedback Four forum is filled with postings on the H1N1 virus, many of them poke fun at the seriousness of the virus.
When Valerie Daly saw the postings, she called Eyewitness News 4 to share her real-life example of how the H1N1 virus is still a legitimate threat.
She says her mom, Katie Francia, was just diagnosed with the virus.
"We're praying," Daly said. "We're praying she comes home to us." Francia's son, Joe, says his mom went to the hospital on August 14 for symptoms related to emphysema.
Last weekend, she was brought to the heart hospital. That's when doctors told the family she had tested positive for H1N1.
"You see it around the world, you see it around the country, but when it hits home, that's when it really affects you," Joe said.
Family members say Francia has been in and out of a coma and is currently on a ventilator. She still doesn't know she's been diagnosed with the potentially-fatal virus.
Her family says it's possible she picked up the virus while working at the Sunport, but they don't know for sure.
A spokesman for the Sunport says they haven't received confirmation of the H1N1 case yet.
City and state health officials did not immediately return calls for comment.
Posted at: 08/28/2009 6:36 PM
By: Eric Kahnert, Eyewitness News 4; Charlie Pabst, KOB.com
Family of woman with H1N1 knows threat is real
Family members say that a custodian at Albuquerque's Sunport is in a hospital with the H1N1 virus. Although she had other pre-existing medical issues, her family says that H1N1 is a very serious threat.
52-year-old Katie Francia's children say they were given the bad news last weekend?when Francia was in a coma.
KOB.com's Feedback Four forum is filled with postings on the H1N1 virus, many of them poke fun at the seriousness of the virus.
When Valerie Daly saw the postings, she called Eyewitness News 4 to share her real-life example of how the H1N1 virus is still a legitimate threat.
She says her mom, Katie Francia, was just diagnosed with the virus.
"We're praying," Daly said. "We're praying she comes home to us." Francia's son, Joe, says his mom went to the hospital on August 14 for symptoms related to emphysema.
Last weekend, she was brought to the heart hospital. That's when doctors told the family she had tested positive for H1N1.
"You see it around the world, you see it around the country, but when it hits home, that's when it really affects you," Joe said.
Family members say Francia has been in and out of a coma and is currently on a ventilator. She still doesn't know she's been diagnosed with the potentially-fatal virus.
Her family says it's possible she picked up the virus while working at the Sunport, but they don't know for sure.
A spokesman for the Sunport says they haven't received confirmation of the H1N1 case yet.
City and state health officials did not immediately return calls for comment.