Greenbrier Father Losing Battle With H1N1 – Family Pleads Get your Flu Shot!

Patrick’s symptoms began to escalate and he was lifeflighted from the ER…

Smokey Barn News Monday January 20, 2014 Greenbrier, Tenn.

Greenbrier Father Losing Battle With H1N1

Family Pleads Get your Flu Shot!

Patrick Sass of Greenbrier age 45 and wife, Julie, were sick with the flu around Christmas but decided that only Julie would go to the hospital and they would share the medication since Patrick believed he would be OK. Patrick’s symptoms began to escalate and he was lifeflighted from the ER at NorthCrest to Vanderbilt hospital on January 2nd and has been in the ICU since then with complications from the worst flu strain known as H1N1 or the “swine flu”. When he arrived at the hospital he was only receiving 30% oxygen which has in turn resulted in brain damage.  One of his lungs was 100% full of fluid and the other 80 %. He has been on life support and kidney dialysis and fighting high fevers on and off for days due to the infection.

As of January 20th, the family has announced that they will be gathering to say their goodbyes to Patrick and to let him go to heaven and finally be at peace according to a family member.

The family would like to thank everyone for their love, compassion, prayers and support financially and emotionally. But, the most important message that the family would like to convey at this time is that their trial will not be in vain and to please take action for yourself and your family and get your flu shot today.

Over a dozen people have died in Middle Tennessee so far and the flu season is still in full swing.

WKRN New channel 2  aired an in depth segment on Patrick, his family and their story of the dangers with the H1N1 flu at 6pm  Monday night  January 20, 2014. Here’s a link to News 2’s Video Report: Click Here

Arrangements have been made for Pat’s Celebration of Life service. It will be Friday, Jan. 24th at 2pm at Bethel Baptist Church located at 7022 Bethel Red in Greenbrier, TN.

A  fundraiser page has been set up to help the family with medical and memorial expenses.

RELATED: 

Flu Prompts NorthCrest to Recommend Different Visitation Guidelines

RELATED: Flu Prompts NorthCrest to Recommend Different Visitation Guidelines

SPRINGFIELD, Tenn. (January 19, 2014) – Due to the presence of the flu in the community, NorthCrest Medical Center has made some recommendations for visitors in the hospital.

For the safety and wellbeing of our children, NorthCrest recommends that no child under the age of 12 visit the patient care areas of the hospital. NorthCrest is also requesting individuals who have any flu-like symptoms to avoid visiting the patient care areas as well. Flu-like symptoms include coughing, sore throat, sneezing, runny nose and fever.

Hospital officials also remind everyone that the best protection against the flu and its spreading is to wash your hands frequently and use cough etiquette. Cough etiquette is to cover your mouth when you cough, preferably with a tissue that you promptly throw away. Then wash or sanitize your hands. If no tissue or sanitizer is available, cover your mouth with your upper arm rather than your hand. Also, keeping 6 feet from someone who is coughing is another precaution.

If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, contact your physician or health care professional or come to the hospital emergency department.

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