Kansas Teen Dies on Trip to Indianapolis

[JimO]

Posted by Treyfish in the Dead Children Thread

High School Freshman Dies From H1N1

A South Barber High School Freshman died Sunday from H1N1 and other complications.

October 26, 2009

A small Kansas community is mourning the sudden loss of a high school student, who died far from home after coming down with the H1N1 flu virus.
Fourteen-year-old Lauren Merklein died Sunday in an Indianapolis, Indiana hospital. The South Barber High School freshman was there for a school trip when she collapsed in her hotel room Friday. She was taken to the hospital where she remained in critical condition the rest of the weekend.
"It just kind of came on all the sudden. She showed no symptoms of it," said School Superintendent Brad Morris.

While Merklein did have an existing heart condition, her sudden death is tragic for for her fellow classmates. With only 70 students in the school, everyone is really close. She was a cheerleader, member of the Future Farmers of America, in the band and vocals and was also on the Principal's honor roll.

"She loved life. She had a very strong faith. She was just the leader and people just loved to be around her because she makes you feel just wonderful," said Morris.

Morris says this is the first reported case of H1N1 in this school system. Grief counselors were at the school Monday morning to help students.

http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/65986567.html

[Shiloh]

Re: Kansas Teen Dies on Trip to Indianapolis

Source: http://www.hutchnews.com/Latestlocalnews/H1N1deathtue

Published online 10/27/2009 3:51 PM

Kiowa teen dies of H1N1 at FFA convention
By The News staff

KIOWA - A 14-year-old freshman at South Barber High School in Kiowa died of complications from the H1N1 influenza flu on Sunday while in Indianapolis, Ind., on a school trip, South Barber Superintendent Brad Morris said.

Lauren Merklein, who had a pre-existing heart condition, was in Indianapolis with about 14 other South Barber students for a national Future Farmers of America convention, Morris said. She fell ill Friday evening, collapsing in her hotel room, and was taken to Riley Children?s Hospital in Indianapolis.

Morris said her parents flew to Indianapolis Friday evening and were present when she died on Sunday.

?She was a very active young lady in the school and with other activities,? Morris said. ?She was in the FFA, band and choir, vocal activities. She was a cheerleader and was on the principal?s honor roll. She was involved in many aspects of school and church and had very strong faith.?

No other South Barber students on the trip were ill, Morris said. The school has had students absent with flu like symptoms but not an abnormally high level of absenteeism, he said.

A celebration of life service will be at 11 a.m. Friday in the school gymnasium.

[Shiloh]

Re: Kansas Teen Dies on Trip to Indianapolis

Source: http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/ffa_s..._getting_h1n1_

FFA student dies after getting H1N1
Mother says girl had pre-existing heart condition

Updated: Thursday, 29 Oct 2009, 5:27 AM EDT
Published : Thursday, 29 Oct 2009, 5:27 AM EDT

* Phil Sanchez
* Edited by Heather Chastain

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The mother of an FFA student from Kansas says her daughter died from the H1N1 virus here in Indianapolis.

Shelly Merklein said her 14-year-old daughter Lauren, did have a pre-existing heart condition, however she said doctors told her, the H1N1 virus contributed to her death.

Merklein added that her daughter was in town for the F-FA convention, and on Friday she collapsed in her hotel room.

On Sunday she passed away at Riley Hospital. "She really hadn't been very sick; she told us she was a little bit achy but really no big deal. She hadn't been coughing or any other symptoms like that, they really didn't suspect that even in the hospital, until she was in there for a day, and then she started getting a high fever and that's when they really started questioning stuff, so they ran the test and then found out that she had H1N1," said Shelly Merklein.

Merklein says this was Lauren's first year participating in the FFA. Lauren was also a cheerleader at South Barber High School in Kiowa Kansas.

She leaves behind her parents, two sisters and slew of other family members and friends many of whom you can see have been leaving messages on this online memorial page.

Lauren will be laid to rest on Friday.

[mcphilbrick]

Re: Kansas Teen Dies on Trip to Indianapolis

FFA Responds to Death, Accidents at Convention

FFA spokeswoman Kristy Meyer says the organization is sending its thoughts and prayers to the family of 14-year-old Lauren Merklein of Kiowa, Kansas.

The teen was in town for the FFA Convention when she fell ill Friday evening and collapsed in her hotel room. She died Sunday at Riley Hospital for Children.

Officials say Merklein had a pre-existing heart condition which contributed to her death.