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A young mum wakes after 3 mths fighting for life in an induced coma, after contracting the flu while pregnant.

Sarah Hawthorn, 33, did not know that she had given birth to a beautiful boy.

Sarah’s son was delivered five weeks premature during an emergency birth last month, and her worried husband, Robert, is maintaining a bedside vigil at The Alfred hospital, reports Herald Sun.

The baby boy has been nicknamed ‘Bomber Hawk’, Rob will only wait for Sarah to wake up so she can give him a name.

Sarah’s sister-in-law, Rachael Holt, said the family was worried, saying on a fundraising page: “Sarah remains in an induced coma, fighting for her life, unaware that she has given birth to the most perfect little baby boy.

“At present she is fully machine-supported and literally fighting for her life. The joy of the arrival of her precious baby (is) tinged with sadness as we continue to hope and pray for the best possible outcome.”

“She took every vitamin under the sun and did everything by the book during her pregnancy,” she stated.

“Her baby boy … has never had the chance to lay with his mum, snuggle into her chest or hear her infectious laugh.”

The Cobram woman initially went to her local doctor, but her family says she was sent home several times.

She spent eight days seeking medical help but was sent home from the Yarrawonga hospital and told to see a GP, it has been claimed.

On August 28, she went by ambulance to hospital, where her son was delivered in an emergency birth.

Doctors at The Alfred Hospital have confirmed that she had contracted influenza A and pneumonia, and other complications.

UPDATE 16 November

Sarah is finally awake and in a stable condition.

The family confirmed the mother has since woken from her coma  and her baby boy is “fit and healthy.”

“After three months in intensive care, Sarah’s condition has improved and she is now stable,” the Hawthorn family said in a statement.

“It has been a big journey for our family.

We’ve been overwhelmed by the generosity of the community, and all the kind wishes we received.

“We would like to thank everyone at The Alfred and especially the team in ICU for their dedicated care.”

Worst flu season this year

Sadly an eight-year-old girl died as a result of the flu. Her family is urging parents to get their kids immunised against the flu!

An Adelaide mother has also pleaded with parents to ensure their children get a flu shot after her daughter nearly died from influenza, reports 9 news.

Her four-year-old daughter Savannah Gillespie started showing symptoms of the flu, including feeling sick and cold.

It took five visits, including one to a local doctor and Noarlunga Hospital, before Savannah was properly diagnosed with influenza Type A and a bacterial infection.

Savannah ended up in intensive care at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in the city’s north, where she was intubated for 13 days.

“The doctors said if we didn’t take her in that night… she would have died,” mother Rhiannon Gillespie said.

“Just to see how quickly she deteriorated was horrible.

“Her organs were shutting down. She had to have two chest drains put in to drain fluid from her lungs.”

In another sad case a young Victorian dad passed away suddenly from the flu on what was supposed to be his first Father’s Day.

Authorities urged those who hadn’t had a flu shot to get one, even though it is late in the season. And they advise people to be vigilant about washing their hands, to avoid spreading the virus.

Read more:

TRAGIC NEWS Young dad dies on his first Father’s Day
Parents beg people to know the signs of sepsis after their sons death
Australia hit by major national flu outbreak

Do I have cold or flu symptoms?

Family of young girl who sadly died of the flu urges people to vaccinate

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  • I ask for the swab test. It takes 5 seconds to do and is covered under bulk billing. I don’t know why doctors don’t automatically do this when presented with symptoms — it can save lives! But I always make sure I ask if I suspect it may be flu related…..

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  • Oh wow! So happy for Sarah! She surely has a lot to catch up now, but I hope she’s taking it easy. 3 months.. incredible!!

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  • How hard is for the other family members. Hope she will be fine and will see his little boy.

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  • I’m wondering how this young mum is.

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  • I do hope this story has a happy ending.

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  • I think this is disgusting to turn a pregnant lady away who obviously knew she herself was sick and was seeking help is just unforgiveable in this day and age – we have plenty of doctors and plenty of people in health care who are supposed to help take care of people – why was she turned away so many times?

    I really do hope this causes an investigation in to her and so many other’s mistreatment by hospitals and gps – too many people have died from this flu already to take the risk of just sending people home!

    I hope Sarah pulls through and her little “bomber hawk” gets to meet her sometime soon – thinking of all the families that have suffered from deaths this year :(

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  • this is really scary because how do you know you are really sick until you end up in hospital? you don’t have a chance to fight it off earlier.

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  • I hope she recovers. The flu shot is so important.

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  • This is so tragic! I cannot believe how badly Sarah has been let down by our Health System – especially in the wake of all the other sad stories we are hearing about this year’s flu season! So pleased to hear little Bomber Hawk is doing well and sending prayers that Sarah will recover soon and be able to rejoice in her precious son – my thoughts are with her family during this heartbreaking time x

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  • How concerning !!
    Hope and pray she’ll recover totally !
    The article states that her baby boy has never had the chance to lay with his mum or snuggle into her chest. I would have thought that it is possible to lay the baby aside to the mum or cuddle it up in between arm and body eventhough she is in coma, so baby can take in her fragrance and presence.

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  • The medical profession failed this poor mom on so many levels.
    Praying she recovers and can be the loving mom she is meant to be.
    Sending love and thoughts.

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  • I hope she makes it and gets to be a mum to Bomber Hawk.

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  • Terrible. This should be a moment of happiness. I’m glad that the little boy is doing great. But I do hope that Sarah will soon go out of coma.

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  • I do hope Sarah will have a full recovery and wishing her and her famly all the best.

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  • This story is so terribly sad and I wish her every good wish for a recovery and to hold her little boy.

    Reply

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