Cashton girl is area?s first H1N1 victim

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Source: http://www.tomahjournal.com/articles...03swineflu.txt

Cashton girl is area?s first H1N1 victim
By Terry Rindfleisch
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The death of a 21-month-old Cashton girl underscores the danger H1N1 flu can pose in some cases, especially for young children, health officials said Thursday.

Aberianna Noel Dunnum died Sunday at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse, the first H1N1 fatality in the area and the ninth this year in Wisconsin.

?Aberianna was a precious little girl whose death came too soon,? the Dunnum family said in a statement. ?We are mourning her loss and will not be making any public statements until we have laid her to rest.?

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. today at Presbyterian Church in Galesville, with graveside services at 2:30 p.m. at Portland Lutheran Church Cemetery in rural Cashton. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to services today at the church.

Josalyn Gloyd, Gundersen Lutheran infection control specialist, said a death certainly heightens H1N1 awareness, ?but it is a kick in the stomach when it?s a child, because we see children as innocent victims.?

It could spur others to take action, whether through prevention efforts or vaccination, she said.

?Unfortunately, the H1N1 flu vaccine is not available yet to the public but should be soon,? Gloyd said.

Young children are at higher risk for complications of H1N1 flu because their immune systems are not well developed and they can be exposed to a new virus, Gloyd said.

?They have very fragile immune systems, putting them at greater risk for respiratory distress,? she said.
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[B.C.]

Re: Cashton girl is area?s first H1N1 victim

Mom of Cashton girl who died from H1N1 talks about her daughter's death
Posted: Nov 04, 2009 7:34 PM PST Updated: Nov 04, 2009 7:34 PM PST

It's been three and a half weeks since a 21 month old Cashton girl died from the H1N1 flu. She was the first confirmed H1N1 death in our area since the virus was first discovered in the U.S. earlier this year.

Debra Komperud is like most parents. She had been reading and hearing about H1N1 in the news and knew how serious it could be, but she never thought it would change her life like it has today.

At just 21 months old, Aberianna Noel Dunnam was already a shining star in many people's lives. Debra says, "lively, exuberant, I mean I don't know where to start and finish in 21 months, she was a lot."

A shining start darkened, just a few months shy of her second birthday. Her mom says it came without warning. "We all met at a wedding in Wausau and we were at the wedding reception and there was, what, 200 people there maybe."

Debra says Aberianna was happy and energetic at the wedding. "Dancing, eating and socializing and never thought anything of it, we drove home and she fell asleep on the way home and we put her in her bed when we got home," says Debra.

One day a full of life little girl, the next? "I went to wake her up and I noticed she just kind of barely looked at me and I felt her and she was like ice and so then I noticed she was blue and she was breathing really hard."

Aberianna was medflighted from Cashton to La Crosse. At first she was awake and responding, but rescue crews and doctors had to do CPR several times to bring her back before her tiny body just could fight any longer. Debra says, "They tried for a long, long, long time, but they couldn't see anything on an x-ray that was showing what might be wrong and the adrenalin didn't work and our world fell apart."

It wasn't until 3 days later that Debra found out Aberianna had H1N1. "When the medical examiner called and told me, it was good to know I guess, it was better than not having a reason, but it was still hard to take in because then all I can says is, I really wish I would've seen something, that there would've been a sign saying that she was sick and there wasn't one."

Debra is leaning on those closest to her during this difficult time. "One step at a time, I have two other children, a fiance, lots of family and friends, they're all here, they're all supporting me."

There are reminders of Aberianna everywhere, but it's the memories that keep Debra going. "Those big beautiful eyes, the smile she always had." And although knowing more wouldn't have made a difference in Debra's case, she wants other parents to get educated on the virus. "Get as much information and education as you can on it."

Because one life, one child is one too many. Debra says, "Not enough time, 21months isn't enough time."

Medical experts say it's more common than not for a person to show symptoms of H1N1 if they do end up dying from it, but there are cases like Aberianna's where they don't show any symptoms.

Aberianna's parents are still waiting for the complete autopsy results to see if there was an unknown health condition that contributed to Aberianna's death, but either way, Debra says she's going to wish there was some kind of warning signs before it was too late.

Also, there's a benefit planned next month in memory of Aberianna. It will be Saturday, Dec. 19th, starting at 11 a.m. at the Cashton Community Center.

They hope to raise some money to possibly provide a scholarship in Aberianna's name. For more information, contact Shanna at (608) 393-2027.

http://www.wkbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=11446867

[Shiloh]

Re: Cashton girl is area?s first H1N1 victim

Source: http://www.westbytimes.com/articles/...ews/00lead.txt

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Benefit planned for family of H1N1 victim
by Dorothy Jasperson, dorothy.jasperson@lee.net

Aberianna Noel Dunnum of Cashton was only 21 months old when she fell victim to the H1N1 virus and passed away on Oct. 11, at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center in La Crosse.

This energetic little girl left behind a heartbroken family including a loving mother, Debra Komperud and father, Darrin Dunnum, plus two siblings, a 6-month-old brother and 6-year-old sister. Now two months after her untimely death Aberianna?s family is struggling to cover her medical and funeral expenses, which are creating a hardship for the family.

On Saturday, Dec. 19, family and friends are holding a benefit to help the Dunnum family offset the mounting expenses they?ve been strapped with since Aberianna?s death.

Diane Dunnum, Aberianna?a grandmother, misses her grandchild immensely. She knew Aberianna hadn?t been feeling well, but associated her out-of-sorts nature to teething, a common occurrence in young children.

?I just wish she could have told us what was wrong, but she was too young to know and much too young to die. It?s been really hard on the family. We?re mentally and physically exhausted,? Diane Dunnum said as she made preparations for the benefit.

Young children are at higher risk for complications of H1N1 flu because their immune systems are not well developed and they can be easily exposed to a new virus, which may have little effect on the person, but be devastating to another.

Diane said, Aberianna?s benefit will be filled with music and dancing, something her beautiful granddaughter was enjoying 24 hours before she died.

?She loved to dance and we loved to watch her,? Diane said.

Aberianna?s benefit will be held on Saturday, Dec. 19 from 11 a.m. - 10 p.m., at the Cashton Community Hall. Food and refreshments will be served, with music from 3-7 p.m. There will be a silent auction, pie auction, traditional auction and raffle to raise money for the Dunnum family. Anyone wishing to donate something for the benefit should contact Diane Dunnum at 608-606-4698.
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