A MUM has been left in agony after her one-year-old son died on Christmas Day after he and his twin caught the winter flu.
Meg Hughes also described how the toddler’s brother was “lost” and “very quiet” after the tragedy – as three other siblings “don’t know what to do”.
The twins, Louie and Vinnie Hughes, contracted the flu just before Christmas, with both boys ending up in comas.
Louie tragically passed away on Christmas morning, after his heart stopped beating and medics tried to resuscitate him for 19 minutes.
Speaking to Teesside Live, Meg said that doctors had been at a loss as to why this had happened.
Vinnie – who was the first to fall ill and was also in a coma for six days – has since recovered and returned to the family home in Stockton, County Durham.
However, the whole family has been left reeling by the loss of Louie, the mum-of-five said.
She added: “I just feel numb at the moment to be honest.
“You don’t expect a child to die of the flu in 2024. He fought so hard and now it’s just so sad.”
Louie and Vinnie were born in September 2023 at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesborough – 20 minutes after Meg arrived.
Both boys were premature – and were so tiny that their eyes were eyelids were fused shut and they could each fit in Meg’s hand.
Despite the difficult birth, the twins strengthened up over the coming months and were doing well before they contracted the flu, she said.
However, they did have some ongoing immunity and lung issues, which the distraught mum believes was the cause of their extreme reaction to the illness.
Vinnie fell ill first, and was rushed to the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle where he was placed in an induced coma.
Meg had just brought the tot back home when his brother also came down with a bad chest.
He went into cardiac arrest for 12 minutes, before his lung collapsed – and he was placed in a coma on December 21.
As well as Meg and Vinnie, Louie leaves behind Ronnie, five, Nancy, nine and Eren, six.
But after being rushed to the RVI’s intensive care unit, the toddler went on to have seizures and passed away four days later.
While Louie was ill, a family member launched a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for the family while they supported the youngster in hospital.
Since his death, the post has been updated to request donations towards his funeral.
Symptoms of flu
WHILE many people recover from the flu naturally, serious cases can leave people needing hospital treatment. Here’s how to check for symptoms.
Symptoms
- a sudden high temperature
- an aching body
- feeling tired or exhausted
- a dry cough
- a sore throat
- a headache
- difficulty sleeping
- loss of appetite
- diarrhoea or tummy pain
- feeling sick and being sick
How to treat the flu
- rest and sleep
- keep warm
- take paracetamol or paracetamol (check the packaging or leaflet to make sure the medicine is suitable for your child, or speak to a pharmacist or GP if you’re not sure)
- drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration (your pee should be light yellow or clear)
If you are an older or medically vulnerable person, or your symptoms do not improve after seven days, it may be necessary to ask for an urgent GP appointment or seek help from NHS 111.
If you experience sudden chest pain, have difficulty breathing or are coughing up blood, go to A&E or call 999.
Source: NHS
It reads: “We now need to raise funds for Louie’s funeral to give him the best send off he deserved.
“Our blue-eyed boy passed away on Christmas Day and we would appreciate all the help we can get to give our boy the best send off possible.
“Any funds left over will be donated to the RVI Newcastle hospital where they tried everything in their power to save Louie.”
So far, £1,475 has been raised for the funeral.
It comes as health experts warn the NHS is headed for the worst season of flu in its history.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, medical director at NHS England, said: “The winter flu season has not only hit the NHS early this year, but it is potentially on track to be one of the worst we have ever seen as the ‘quad-demic’ continues.
“Frontline NHS staff are under significant pressure.
“As families and friends have gathered over the festive period we expect the peak of seasonal viruses is yet to come.”
Figures suggest 1.1million people could not get a GP appointment when they tried before Christmas.
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