Dad of 4 Keeps Ignoring Flu Symptoms, Left Fighting for His Life in ICU
US Navy veteran and father of four Shawn Borrough, 48, began experiencing flu symptoms as an epidemic began spreading through San Diego around Christmas.
“He had a little chest congestion, headache, body ache,” his wife Jennifer said. “The usual stuff where you’re like, ‘OK, I’m getting the flu.'”
But despite his worsening symptoms, Borrough did not rest and continued to work 12-16 hours every day.
This mistake had the potential to cost him his life. And instead of ringing in 2018 on News Year’s Day, the Borrough family spent their day in the emergency room.
“He couldn’t breathe. They had to rush me out, they had to intubate him and sedate him,” Jennifer explained.
“They told me he was in renal failure, his white count was through the roof, he has severe pneumonia.”
Jennifer was in a state of shock, because other than being “a little overweight,” her husband was “totally healthy.”
Further, the family had decided not to get the flu shot after seeing low success rates.
But after testing each of their children, they learned that the younger two tested positive for the flu. Thankfully, doctors checked their lungs and found them to be clear.
On Jan. 4, positive news came when doctors told the family that he had staph pneumonia, which was highly treatable. But for now, Borrough is still on a ventilator and heavily sedated.
Jennifer is keeping friends and family updated with posts on Facebook, and asks for continued prayers for her husband’s recovery.
“I still cant believe this is happening,” she wrote. “I cling to every piece of positive progress….I try not to because we are still deep in the woods, keep praying everyone. Please!!”
Friends have set up a fundraising page that has already reached its goal of $5,000. They have also set up a meal train to make meals for the family. “Alright friends, the Burrough family needs us!” friend Teresa Ponce wrote in a post.
“Although our prayers are needed and helpful, let’s give just a tad more! Let’s start a meal train to help ease some responsibility off of Jen’s shoulders so she can focus more on being with Shawn.”
Now, Jennifer is sending out a warning to other families hoping to prevent the same thing from happening again.
“If you’re sick — I mean, the first cough, I don’t care if it’s not the flu — go get seen just in case. You never know,” she said.
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