Knoxville: H1N1 suspected in death

[tetano]

Cathy Briscoe-Graves and her 23-year-old daughter both got very sick on a Friday with serious, flu-like symptoms: coughing, headaches, body aches.

Their primary-care physician suspected the H1N1 influenza strain, Briscoe-Graves said, though he didn't test them, because that's the most common flu strain circulating in this area.

In fact, the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has noted a recent spike in H1N1 activity - and the number of related deaths - in Tennessee and the Southeast region.

By a Tuesday, Briscoe-Graves was feeling significantly better. Her daughter was worse.

Briscoe-Graves took her to Parkwest Medical Center's emergency department.

"I thought they'd give her an IV and some antibiotics," Briscoe-Graves said. "I thought maybe she had walking pneumonia."

Instead, a chest X-ray showed filled lungs, a life-threatening case of pneumonia, probably caused by the young woman coughing so hard with the flu that she aspirated stomach acid.

On March 19, Briscoe-Graves' young, vibrant daughter - who loved painting, drawing, genealogy and scrapbooking and looked forward to being a bridesmaid in her brother's October wedding - died of pneumonia, despite specialists' valiant efforts to save her, her mother said.

http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/mar/28/h1n1-suspected-in-death-vaccine-is-available/

 

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: Knoxville: H1N1 suspected in death

from the same article:

Several recent deaths in local hospitals could be linked to H1N1, said Knox County Medical Director Martha Buchanan.

"It's hard to say" exactly how many, Buchanan said. "They may get sick at home and come to the hospital with something else and not even know they have" the flu.

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Knoxville: H1N1 suspected in death

<!--div class="tribute-badge"--><!-- Military Badge image--><!--/div-->Martha Catherine Graves

• BORN: August 17, 1986
• DIED: March 19, 2010
• LOCATION: Knoxville, TN

Martha Catherine Kelly Graves, , age 23, of Knoxville, passed away, March 19, 2010.

She was born in Irving, Texas and graduated from Grapevine High School, Texas in 2006. Martha Catherine was a member of Second Presbyterian Church.

She loved scrapbooking, photography, dancing and music.
Martha Catherine enjoyed attending Knox Heritage functions to learn more about her local family history. Martha Catherine is a descendant of Knoxville pioneers, the Briscoe, Earnest and Russell families. Martha Catherine was the great-granddaughter of Russell Briscoe, a well known artist and Knoxville businessman. She inherited her great-grandfathers? artistic gift and loved to paint and draw. Martha Catherine is also the great-granddaughter of Miami, Florida pioneer, John Barclay Orr.

Martha Catherine will be remembered for her sweet disposition and her loving spirit. Martha Catherine was preceded in death by her father, George Barclay Graves; grandparents, Dr. William Graves and Ellen Orr Graves of Miami, FL.; grandfather, Lt. William Russell Briscoe, Jr. (Knoxville?s first Korean War casualty) and Martha McCrary Briscoe McWhorter. She is survived by her mother, Cathy Briscoe-Graves; brothers, George Barclay Orr Graves, Jr. and William Russell Briscoe Graves and fianc?, Janina Giddings.



http://www.tributes.com/show/Martha-Graves-88148010

 

[tetano]

Re: Knoxville: H1N1 suspected in death

The fresh smell of newly cut grass is in the air, birds are bustling and the temperature is heating up. Signs abound that it is spring, a time many equate with the end of flu season.
But the H1N1 flu virus isn't gone. In fact, the southeastern United States, including Tennessee, has seen a slight increase in H1N1 cases. Clusters of cases have been reported in Nashville and Knoxville, according to Tennessee health officials.

The pandemic virus can last for up to two years. This spring marks the end of year one.

Health officials are hoping people will get one of the million remaining H1N1 vaccine shots, especially since another wave of H1N1 cases could be looming.


http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100329/NEWS01/3290334/2066/NEWS03

 

[Pathfinder]

Re: Knoxville: H1N1 suspected in death

Updated: 3:57 AM Mar 30, 2010

Mother says get H1N1 vaccine after daughter's death​

Complications from H1N1 have claimed the life of one Knoxville young woman.

Posted: 11:22 PM Mar 29, 2010
Reporter: Sara Shookman
Email Address: sara.shookman@wvlt-tv.com

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Local health officials say they're seeing a resurgence of the H1N1 flu this spring. Complications from H1N1 have also claimed the life of one Knoxville young woman.

Martha Graves, 23, was a healthy young woman until she and her mother, Cathy, came down with the flu-like symptoms. "Kind of a sore throat, definitely aches and pains. And we were just bed-ridden," said Cathy Briscoe-Graves. She says she didn't know the pair had H1N1, until it was too late.

"The morning I took her to the hospital," said Briscoe-Graves, "She was running 104 degree temperature." Martha had developed pneumonia.

"It was a very, very severe case of pneumonia and said it could be fatal," she said. Tens days later, the illness took Martha's life.

"My youngest child, and it's just very difficult to lose a child as a parent," said Briscoe-Graves.

"Some people that we don't expect to get very sick, get really sick and sometimes even pass away from the flu," said Dr. Martha Buchanan with the Knox County Health Department.

Many people have tried precautions to prevent flu. "I think it's terrible that H1N1 is out there, but I just did a lot of extra hand-washing and things like that," said Teresa Chumney, who chose not to get the H1N1 vaccine.

Dr. Buchanan says the severity of the virus can vary, but to save yourself, the doctor's orders: get the shot. "Flu is a serious illness. The best protection against flu is getting vaccinated," she said.

Vaccines are still available at the Knox County Health Department for no cost. Current increase of the illness could mean another wave is on the way.

"We've seen three waves with previous pandemics so this pandemic may give us a third wave as well. We'll just have to wait and see," she said.

Briscoe-Graves says waiting to get vaccinated isn't worth the risk.

"Why jeopardize your life? Why put it in jeopardy if you could go get a free vaccine?"

http://www.volunteertv.com/news/headlines/89483692.html