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CatieJ I would like to give you Kimi's timeline and ask you what could have made a difference. Both her dad and I (mom) feel that she was given the best health care and at no time during this illness did any medical professional deny her any help.
Kimi came home on September 12th and 13th for the Black Swamp Arts Festival in Bowling Green, OH. She stayed at our house. Her sister and I went to the festival with her and her friend on Sunday - when she was here and left on Sunday there was no sign of illness.
I talked to Kimi at least once a day.
Tuesday, September 15 Kimi called me in the afternoon and said that she had a sore throat and cough. I asked her if she had a fever or if her cough was bronchial - she has chronic bronchitis - occurs every fall. She did not have a fever and said her cough was not in the chest yet.
Wendnesday we talked she said she was sore but not vomiting and no fever.
Thursday she called me with fever, achy, and was vomiting. I told her to go to the ER or a walk in clinic ASAP. she called me several hours later and was at the Hamilton Urgent Care - They said she possible had H1N1 or another flu but once the symptoms are present as in her the only method of treatment is to let it run its course as with most viruses. She was told that if she could not keep fluids down to go to the ER for IV fluids.
Friday she said she was still throwing up but in the late afternoon was keeping sips of water down.
Saturday a friend bought over chicken soup which she kept down and was drinking water and not vomiting.
Sunday still had slight fever but said was feeling better but achy. She also talked to her dad.
Monday morning she said the fever was gone but she was achy and tired. I told her to get some rest and drink plenty of water.
Tuesday morning she called me and said her chest was tight and and she was having difficulty breathing similar to when she as asthma problems. I told her to get to the ER. I would meet her at the hospital in three hours. She wanted to take a shower. About 30 minutes later her roommate called and said they were taking Kimi by ambulance to the hospital because she was too week to take her shower.
Her Father and I arrived at the hospital in Oxford around 4:30PM. The doctor talked to us very shortly after we arrived. He stated that Kimi had the viral pneumonia but thought they had caught it in time. Kimi's body had to fight the ilness because there is no cure or medication for most viruses. They had her on IVs for fluids and antibiotics to prevent other bacterial infections such as staph or strep, but her body had to fight. She was being transfered to Cincinnati as others with this had been.
We were able to see Kimi and talk to her. She said we did not need to come but was happy to see us. an hour later her blood platelates were being destroyed and her white count was dropping. Her breathing was getting more difficult and oxygen levels were also dropping they said that they needed to put her on the respirator and the helicoppter was ready to transport her originally we were waiting for the ground ambulance.
We drove to Cincinnati. when we arrived they told us they were working on stablizing her. The doctor working on her came to talk to us stated that she was critical and that this was an atypical viral pneumonia. They could not understand why it was progressing so fast and her body was struggling so much to fight it. They let us come back to the ICU. My husband and I were with her as the doctors and nursing staff did their best to help Kimi. A friend of Kimi's came to the Cincinnatti Hospital and was allowed to be in the ICU with us. Kimi passed away early morning September 23. Two of her brothers, a couple of aunts and her parents were with her.
I know that many people are frustrated with the health care system and think that everyone should get it free. I believe that right now the USA has the BEST health care system in the world. It may have some problems to work out but NO ONE IS EVER DENIED MEDICAL CARE and Kimi received the best and lack of insurance was not an issue in this case.
Cathy Young - Kimi's Mother
R.I.P. Kimi Young, 22
Suburban Guerrilla —
... Another bright young life snuffed out because of our crappy health care system. And, if history’s any indication, no one in Congress will care until it happens to one of their own family: ...
Uninsured 22-Year-Old Boehner Constituent Dies From Swine Flu
Think Progress —
... A 22-year-old woman from Oxford, Ohio, died from swine flu on Wednesday. Kimberly Young graduated from Miami University in December and continued to live in Oxford, Ohio, within Minority Leader John Boehner’s congressional distrct. Reports now indicate that after initially getting sick, Young put off treatment because she was uninsured: ...
Kimberly Young
Political Animal —
... of Congress is Rep. John Boehner, who as the House Republican leader has led the effort against reform. Young, a previously healthy 2008 graduate of Miami University of Ohio who lived in Oxford, was diagnosed with swine flu and pneumonia. A few days later, her roommate's mother told a local news channel, she went to an urgent care center. But as her condition continued to worsen, she was reluctant to go to Oxford's McCullough-Hyde Hospital to get proper treatment. A friend of Young's said , "That's the most tragic part about it. If she had insurance, she would have gone to the ...
This is your country as envisioned by Republicans
Brilliant at Breakfast —
Any questions? Friends say the Miami University graduate who died this week after reportedly suffering from swine flu delayed getting medical treatment because she did not have health insurance. News of Kimberly Young’s death Wednesday, Sept. 23, came as a shock to those who knew the vibrant 22-year-old who was working at least two jobs in Oxford after graduating with a double major in December 2008. Young became ill about two weeks ago, but didn’t seek care initially because she didn’t have health insurance and was worried about the cost, according ...
R.I.P. Kimi Young, 22, Another Casualty of Our For-Profit Deathcare System.
Crooks and Liars —
... Another bright young life snuffed out because of our crappy health care system. And, if history's any indication, no one in Congress will care until it happens to one of their own family: ...
Ohio Woman Dies of Swine Flu, Ghoulish Blogger Exploits It to Score Cheap Political Points
JammieWearingFool —
... because Boehner has the audacity to oppose the government takeover of the health care industry. A 22-year-old woman from Oxford, Ohio, died from swine flu on Wednesday. Kimberly Young graduated from Miami University in December and continued to live in Oxford, Ohio, within Minority Leader John Boehner’s congressional distrct [ sic ]. Reports now indicate that after initially getting sick, Young put off treatment because she was uninsured. That appears to be the case according to this news report . So the young lady eschewed carrying insurance and now paid a tragic price for ...
You Can't Prevent Stupid
Confederate Yankee —
... . And like the majority of issues presented through blinders of opportunistic hatred, the actual reality of the situation is a bit different than the community-based reality would like to cobble together. As a more credible account notes, 22-year-old Kimberly Young died because she made the decision not to seek care until it was too late to save her life. Friends claim the proximate cause of decision not to seek care was because she did not have health insurance, but that is a fig leaf, at best. Young knew she did not feel well, and she knew this for almost two weeks. Like ...
