My GF died of Swine Flu
By cynthiann
@cynthiann (18602)
Jamaica
November 9, 2009 1:58pm CST
I've been in shock from the end of last week. My GF who arranged for all of us to go on vacation on the cruise ship has died of H1N1 virus.
We met in NY the day before we sailed and stayed in a hotel downtown Manhattan.
In the evening we all went as a group to a Chinese Restaurant in China Town and had a fantastic time. My GF's aunt who also came on the cruise paid for all of us. I had never experienced having 12 course Chinese meal before and it was a wonderful beginning to the holiday.
She became ill on the second day of our vacation and stayed in her cabin and her husband took care of her. We begged her to go to the ship's doctor but she refused. When we returned to NY she looked the sickest thing that I had ever seen on 2 legs.
She lives in Florida so we said our goodbyes in NY.
Two days later she was admitted to Intensive Care and then she went on life support. Her body was not responding to antibiotics at all. She kept writing on a pad that she was dying and we all have been praying for her. Actually I worked out today that I have prayed for her for 14 years since she was first diagnosed with cancer.
I keep thinking that I am 7 years older than her but I expect her immune system was shot.
Do you know anyone who has caught the H1N1 virus?
BTW I am back to almost square one and not receiving notifications etc.
30 people like this
109 responses
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
9 Nov 09
I am so sorry. The Swine Flu is a definite scary thing! So many have passed because of it, and it's so scary to hear about it! If she was on the ship when she started feeling sick, or wait it was after eating Chinese? If it was on the ship, I could see where people might think it's seasickness...
They say it's the young and old who die of it...
Sorry about the notifications!
4 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
9 Nov 09
Thanks sweetie. I think she got it in NY because we did all go out and around Manhattan and in and out of shops too. I think she got it in NY or in flying in from Florida. I don't really know. Haven't received any notifications on your posts fr about 6 weeks. when I get the time I try to hunt a few friends down to see what they have posted. I did not expect her to die.
4 people like this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
9 Nov 09
If she had had cancer in the past my only guess is that it really messed with her immune system. I am sure it was a shock for all involved. I just hope her husband is doing okay.
Just take your time with everything, I don't know why you aren't getting the notifies, maybe it somehow toggled off on notifies?
3 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
11 Nov 09
what is even more wierd is tht I am getting notifications from pele who are not on my list of friends! And now my star has dropped!
1 person likes this
@earndeep (168)
• India
9 Nov 09
Very sad my dear...
She had left all her memories with you. Don't get depressed be relaxed every thing will go smooth when days passes.
The swine flu is the deadly disease, have kill many mankind around us. Some healing medicines must be invented and have to find the root cause eradicate it completely.
I'm praying for this. Let some good happen soon.
4 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
9 Nov 09
I think that as a cancer survivor her immune system was not strong and this is why she came down with it. None of us others who were with her caught it.
2 people like this
@earndeep (168)
• India
9 Nov 09
Its very hard to live with Cancer disease... And its the main cause for your friend to be affected by H1N1...
I shows that God wants your friend not to be suffered a lot with these deadly diseases... So only he grabbed your friend soon...
My shoulders are with you my pal...
3 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
10 Nov 09
I am so happy that your husband is o.k. It must have been so worrying for you. Blessngs
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
10 Nov 09
That is very sad and my thoughts are with you and her family. Maybe her immune system wasn't as strong as it might have been, whatever, you have happy memories of being with her. Think of those times and of her smile and delight of being with you. She will always be with you. Take care.
4 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
10 Nov 09
Her immune system was weak because of the chemo. I do have happy memories but ti was arrogant of me to think that my prayers could have saved her. I was so sure that she would be o.k. I appreciate your kind words.
@maxilimian (3099)
• Indonesia
10 Nov 09
Really sorry to hear that 
that's two heavy illness, should be taken to the hospital right away ... but well .. i can only pray for her, what is her name? So i can lead my pray for her to God, hope she rest in peace.
Be strong Cynthiann, hope her family is resoluted
that's two heavy illness, should be taken to the hospital right away ... but well .. i can only pray for her, what is her name? So i can lead my pray for her to God, hope she rest in peace.
Be strong Cynthiann, hope her family is resoluted4 people like this
@Jetleena (11)
• United States
10 Nov 09
First off, I would like to say that I am very sorry that you lost such a good friend. I'm sure that you have heard that a lot and it doesn't really help with the pain of losing her, but I am sorry, I hope that the memories you two made will last a life time :)..
I do not really know if my husband had the H1N1, because the regular flu is a lot like the H1N1. But, he did get very very sick this week, and when he went to the doctor he gave him something to help with the flu as well as the H1N1. Everyone freaked out in my house because I'm 8 and 1/2 months pregnant, so I'm on the same meds he is.. But anyway, I saw what my husband went through and it was really rough.. I can only imagine what she went through... she was a fighter though it would seem. cancer sure is not an easy thing to live through...
My thoughts are with you...
4 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
10 Nov 09
SHE WAS A FIGHTER. ALL 90 LB OF HER! I DO HOPE THAT YOU ARE O.K. AND DO NOT GET THE FLU. i SEE THAT YOU ARE NEW TO MYLOT SO WELCOME.
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
10 Nov 09
Cynthia,
I am so so sorry for your loss. I have not personally known anyone who has had it. My daughter did have the flu a couple of weeks ago and I did take her in to the doctor which normally I'd just let it ride it's course. ...just in case. It was NOT the swine flu but it was pretty harsh ...had her down for almost 2 weeks. What is odd here is that you all were together and none of you got sick but her?? Again, i'm so sorry for your loss. {{{HUGS}}}
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
10 Nov 09
I think that she contacted it in NY. We were there fora day and a half before we sailed and she was out in the crowds soending and buying things. The day after we sailed she virtually isolated herself and did not leave her cabib=n. He rhusband looked after her and she told me to stay away because she had the flu. None of us got sick at all.
1 person likes this
@mommyboo (13174)
• United States
10 Nov 09
This is awful Cynthiann! I am so sorry to hear this. She had cancer AND then got H1N1?? I actually know a few people who apparently had it but in all of their cases it was mild and over before they gave it to anybody else - more or less they were sick a few days, tested, had to wait a week for results, then found out that's what they had had. Only one that I know of had to be hospitalized and I think it's only because he was a child. The rest of them got antibiotics, strong ones.
4 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
10 Nov 09
It seems that it affects the yong and the old more than any other group and her immune system was shot. Many thanks for your kind words
@PeacefulWmn9 (10420)
• United States
10 Nov 09
What pain you must be feeling over this sadness, as nothing hurts as much as losing a loved one.
This flu is very dangerous, and yet so little vaccine has yet made it into the mainstream public. I pray that is does soon, or there will be more tragedies, such as has happened to your friend.
You're surely in my thoughts.
Karen3 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
10 Nov 09
Thank you for taking the time to respond. It is so kind of you.
1 person likes this
@PeacefulWmn9 (10420)
• United States
11 Nov 09
Thank you for the best response.
I know your grief is still so raw and I'll be keeping you in my prayers.
Karen
@anotherxidentity (1434)
• United States
9 Nov 09
Most people aren't dying from the disease. The ones that are have something wrong with them like a chronic illness or an already compromised illness. As you said she had cancer and I can only imagine what her immune system was like and even if she was "cured" you're always in remission so perhaps there was cancer growing and the flu compromised everything.
I actually had swine flu last week. I felt horrible for an entire week but the doctors aren't giving antibiotics out because antibiotics don't kill off the flu since its a virus. Now I ended up having to go on antibiotics after a week because I caught a bacterial infection during the flu. That is probably what killed your girlfriend - not the swine flu but another infection because doctors aren't stupid to give antibiotics to a virus. Giving someone antibiotics while they have a virus and not a bacterial infection just causes a person's immune system to stop reacting to antibiotics and the bacteria will win in a sense.
4 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
10 Nov 09
I am told that she received antibiotics because of a secondary infection. I do not know where. Her immune system was shot from the chemo. Thank you for explaining it so clearly
@rosepedal64 (4188)
• United States
10 Nov 09
Hi cynthiann
Im not sure what to say to you right now. The main thing is that you need to be strong and take care of yourself. With time the hurt will start to fade a little. I will keep you in my thoughts and wish only the best for you. Have you checked in on her husband to see if he is doing okay? If not you might want to do that too.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
10 Nov 09
I live in J,A. - an ocean between us but I gather that her husband is just in shock. They never had children.
@rosepedal64 (4188)
• United States
10 Nov 09
As bad as this may sound, it is good that they didn't have any children. That would have only made the situation worse. Im sure that her hubby is in major shock. Maybe you could give him a quick call to show that you are thinking of them. Once again Im sorry that you are having to go thru this.
2 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
9 Nov 09
This is up close and in my face. I am still in shock.
2 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
9 Nov 09
I am this way with shock. I honestly thought that my many night vigils of prayers would help her to get better. I will have to process the information. I go like this when I am shocked. It takes me a while
2 people like this
@yyfyqb (97)
• United States
9 Nov 09
i am so sorry. i heard there are a lot of people got H1N1 in my country,but most can return to good health.my brother said my sister-in-law got flu,maybe it is swine flu. fortunately,she recovered completely. i think it depands on the ability to fight disease of every person.
4 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
10 Nov 09
If your immune sustem is srong then you seem to be o.k. Thank you
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
10 Nov 09
No, I don’t know of anybody who’s down with swine flu and your’s is the first case where somebody I ‘know’ has somebody else who’s had it and lost the battle…so when I first read the topic of the discussion, I was kind of ‘hit’ by something, you know! I read so many accounts of this disease but have not taken it personally till now…really at a loss for words.
3 people like this
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
10 Nov 09
I'm so sorry for your loss. I've heard when you get this, you get very sick very quickly. Horrible.
3 people like this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
10 Nov 09
No life is not fair - but then no one ever promised it would be. Thank you so much for your sympathy. I appreciate it very much
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
9 Nov 09
Thank yo suzzy. I just keep thinking that this is not supposed to happen whilst on holiday. 17 of us went and she did all he work booking etc for us all.
1 person likes this
@wookieekyut (673)
• Philippines
10 Nov 09
My condolences. You were exposed to the virus too, since you were with her, right? Did you get the vaccine?
Just curious, where in Florida is she from? I have a sister in Florida. I am worried about her and her kids. I was there for 8 months. I am thankful that I didn't catch the flu.
Take care and have yourself checked when you first see some signs.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
10 Nov 09
I was with her but I did not room with her as her husband ws on the trip. I have not had the vaccine but will phine today to see if it is avialble where I live. She did not leave the cabin after the second day until we disembarked in Brooklyn. Many thanks for your good advice
