Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
First Northland H1N1 death suspected
Wed, 11/18/2009 - 10:04pm
Nick LaFave & photojournalist Mitch Davis, FOX 21 News
WASHBURN, Wis. - A Bayfield County family is in mourning as tests are underway to determine if their loved one died from the H1N1 virus. Once confirmed, it would be the first swine flu death in the Northland... as other rush to get immunized.
Lisa Weispfenning's eight month?old son, Calvin is now immunized against the swine flu.
"Got a band?aid and a sticker and we're good to go," she says.
The Bayfield County Health Department has 600 doses on hand tonight. With more on the way for next week's clinic.
"So, we should have enough to get our target group done," says health department director, Amelia Lindsey. As she prepares some for a possible battle with H1N1, The Schnabel Family is mourning a lost fight, possibly due to the virus.
58?year old Paul Schnabel died at a Duluth hospital this past Sunday morning after falling ill little more than two weeks earlier.
On his Caring Bridge website, his wife of 32 years, Michelle writes, "My heart is broken. I woke up this morning around 3:22 am. They called about a half hour later... telling me 3:22 is around the time he began having trouble. I think he just wanted to let me know in the only way he could because we haven't spoken to him since he was put on the respirator."
Family members tell FOX 21 Paul is being tested for H1N1. His death would be the first in the Northland from the virus.
"Good man, I really will miss him," says John Morris who worked with Paul at the Ashland Post Office. He has their flag at half staff for the co-worker who, after 29 combined years of service between the Washburn and Ashland offices, just retired in February.
"We just had a party for him about eight months ago," says Morris. "So, we were all excited he was finally going to have some good times."
After retiring from the post office, Paul came to work at the Ashland Fire
Department as a volunteer EMT. Though they politely declined an interview, They are paying tribute to Paul with their own flag at half?staff.
As friends and family wait for confirmation that H1N1 took Paul's life, Lisa is back at the clinic, doing her best to keep Calvin healthy.
"I just don't want to see him get sick with this," she says.
The next H1N1 clinic for Bayfield County is for TARGETED groups only.
Next Tuesday from 3:00 to 6:30 at the Great Lakes Visitors Center.
The funeral and celebration of life for Paul Schnabel is Thursday, noon at the family home near Ashland, 24360 Cherryville Road.
http://fox21online.com/news/first-northland-h1n1-death-suspected
Wed, 11/18/2009 - 10:04pm
Nick LaFave & photojournalist Mitch Davis, FOX 21 News
WASHBURN, Wis. - A Bayfield County family is in mourning as tests are underway to determine if their loved one died from the H1N1 virus. Once confirmed, it would be the first swine flu death in the Northland... as other rush to get immunized.
Lisa Weispfenning's eight month?old son, Calvin is now immunized against the swine flu.
"Got a band?aid and a sticker and we're good to go," she says.
The Bayfield County Health Department has 600 doses on hand tonight. With more on the way for next week's clinic.
"So, we should have enough to get our target group done," says health department director, Amelia Lindsey. As she prepares some for a possible battle with H1N1, The Schnabel Family is mourning a lost fight, possibly due to the virus.
58?year old Paul Schnabel died at a Duluth hospital this past Sunday morning after falling ill little more than two weeks earlier.
On his Caring Bridge website, his wife of 32 years, Michelle writes, "My heart is broken. I woke up this morning around 3:22 am. They called about a half hour later... telling me 3:22 is around the time he began having trouble. I think he just wanted to let me know in the only way he could because we haven't spoken to him since he was put on the respirator."
Family members tell FOX 21 Paul is being tested for H1N1. His death would be the first in the Northland from the virus.
"Good man, I really will miss him," says John Morris who worked with Paul at the Ashland Post Office. He has their flag at half staff for the co-worker who, after 29 combined years of service between the Washburn and Ashland offices, just retired in February.
"We just had a party for him about eight months ago," says Morris. "So, we were all excited he was finally going to have some good times."
After retiring from the post office, Paul came to work at the Ashland Fire
Department as a volunteer EMT. Though they politely declined an interview, They are paying tribute to Paul with their own flag at half?staff.
As friends and family wait for confirmation that H1N1 took Paul's life, Lisa is back at the clinic, doing her best to keep Calvin healthy.
"I just don't want to see him get sick with this," she says.
The next H1N1 clinic for Bayfield County is for TARGETED groups only.
Next Tuesday from 3:00 to 6:30 at the Great Lakes Visitors Center.
The funeral and celebration of life for Paul Schnabel is Thursday, noon at the family home near Ashland, 24360 Cherryville Road.
http://fox21online.com/news/first-northland-h1n1-death-suspected