A 12-year-old Michigan boy died last week after having flu-like symptoms for a couple of days.
Michael Messenger, of Clay Township, Mich., first showed symptoms Jan. 9, when he vomited during dinner.
When his symptoms persisted, he was taken to urgent care the next day. His vitals were normal and he was given anti-nausea medication.
"The doctor said to keep an eye on him and keep giving him fluids," said his mother, Jessica Decent-Doll. A rapid flu test came back negative, she said.
She spent most of Wednesday night up with Michael and determined they would make a trip to the emergency room in the morning after her other children were off to school.
Decent-Doll said they let Michael rest. But shortly after 9:15 a.m. Jan. 11, her husband went to wake him and found him barely responsive.
"I ran upstairs and I sat with him and I tried to get him to respond to me, but there was no response, nothing," she said.
Decent-Doll said 911 dispatchers instructed them on how to perform CPR while emergency crews responded. An hour and a half later, her son was dead at the hospital.
"It's indescribable, it really is," she said.
Decent-Doll said the family is coping as best they can and advised seeking medical treatment as soon as symptoms worsen.
"Don't wait, it's all I can say. This flu or whatever is going around this year is unbelievably dangerous," she said.
Clay Township Police Chief Michael Koach said the death is not being investigated as suspicious.
Decent-Doll said they are still awaiting autopsy results to determine Michael's cause of death. He had received a flu vaccine in December.
"The boy never stopped, ever. He loved science. He loved his family," she said.
He loved annoying his big sister, playing with his big brother and protecting his little sister.
He was smart and creative and wanted to be an engineer.
"Just a little guy but he was so mighty, he really was," Decent-Doll said.
A GoFundMe account started for the family has raised $8,687 in four days, as of Wednesday morning.
"Mikey was so full of life and so energetic he lit up the room with his smile," the page reads.
