Father of four fights for life after ignoring flu and continuing to go to work
A young father-of-four is fighting for his life after he ignored a series of flu symptoms and continued to work.
Shawn Burrough’s household in Lakside, California was hit with a bug over Christmas but as the sole provider for his family, he pushed through.
“He had a little chest congestion, headache, body ache, the usual stuff where you’re like, OK, I’m getting the flu,” his wife Jennifer told KSWB.
But by New Year’s Eve, the US Navy veteran was in the emergency room fighting for life.
“He couldn’t breathe. They had to rush me out, they had to intubate him and sedate him,” Jennifer said.
“They told me he was in renal failure, his white [blood cell] count was through the roof, he has severe pneumonia.”
A crowdfunding page for Mr Burrough said he’s now in the ICU with Renal Failure, strep pneumonia, a failing kidney, influenza B.
The family opted not to get the flu shot since the success rate was low.
Two of their children are now also battling the flu virus.
Jennifer said she never expected it would be the flu that would bring down her tough husband.
As parts of California continue to battle a flu epidemic, she is urging others not to wait until it’s too late.
“If you’re sick, I mean the first cough, I don’t care if it’s not the flu, go get seen," Jennifer added.
