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Nov 2, 2009 10:08 pm US/Central
Family Says Missed H1N1 Diagnosis Hurt Woman
DENTON (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
A North Texas family is struggling with one of the most difficult decisions anyone could face. Family members say a loved one is lying in the hospital, suffering from the H1N1 virus, among other health problems and they have to decide whether to keep her on life support.
Debra Parker lies in a medically induced coma - while her family is left wondering if she had been tested for the H1N1 virus, would she be in her current state. "This is not questioning God I know. But I don't understand why He had to take someone so special like that. I wish I could take her place," said Debra's husband, Jimmy Parker.
Debra was dealing with a number of serious health conditions, then she tested positive for Influenza A while hospitalized at Texas Health Presbyterian in Denton.
Debra has asthma, heart problems and diabetes. Then the 56-year-old had a bout with bronchitis in late August and her husband says, "She just kept getting worse and worser".
Debra was already under a doctor's care when she was admitted to the hospital on October 13.
The Parker family wondered if Debra had the swine flu. "She had all the symptoms, every symptom," claims Debra's daughter-in-law, Sherry Parker.
Debra's family said she was never tested for the H1N1 virus and they don't think the patient is the one who should have asked to be tested. "If they have to ask then they should test them," Sherry Parker said. "I think they should test them if they have the symptoms, just to rule it out."
Debra's doctor told CBS 11 that the woman did not have H1N1 symptoms, but her family thinks otherwise. Sherry Parker said her mother-in-law had symptoms like, "Coughing, sneezing, runny nose, coughing up stuff, fever, stomachache, everything."
It wasn't until October 21 that the family says documents show Debra tested positive for Influenza A. And just this past weekend family members were told to take Tamiflu -- an antiviral medication used to treat flu symptoms. "My nephew has the swine flu and my husband and I had it last week," Sherry Parker said. "But we're healthier, so we got over it and she didn't."
Now the family may have to wait until after her impending death to know if she had H1N1 for sure. Her husband said, "She was a very special lady."
A medical expert says Parker could have gotten the flu before she entered the hospital or after her immune system was already so compromised and she developed double pneumonia.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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