Lawrence family who lost loved one to flu advocates for vaccination

From left are Zeke Sheridan, 11, his mother Elisabeth Sheridan and Elizabeth Sheridan's niece Chloe Sheridan, 22, after Elisabeth and Chloe got flu shots Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014. Chloe's mother and Elisabeth's sister Rachael Marie Sheridan died Feb. 24, 2014, due to complications from flu at age 39. The Sheridans are stressing the importance of getting a flu shot.

Rachael Sheridan

Other ways to avoid the flu

• Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick too.

• Stay home when you are sick. Stay home from work, school and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.

• Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.

• Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.

• Practice other good health habits. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.

Source: Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department

The breathing problems started around the turn of the new year. Rachael Sheridan was used to having asthma from allergies, but this was something far worse. The Lawrence resident, 39, eventually tested positive for the H1N1 flu strain.

She had to be hospitalized and put on a ventilator. She later went to a Kansas City hospital to be hooked up to a machine that oxygenates the blood outside of the body.

By late February, her condition had deteriorated. Doctors said her lungs were stiff as concrete. Her family took her off life support Feb. 24.

Sheridan’s family believes her death could have been prevented had she gotten last year’s flu shot, which included an immunization against H1N1. Now they are advocating for people of all ages to get a vaccine prior to the upcoming flu season. The shots are offered in numerous locations in Lawrence, from doctors’ offices to the health department to many grocery and drug stores.

“I just don’t want people to have to learn this lesson we had to learn the hard way,” said Elisabeth Sheridan, 39, of Lawrence. “My sister had two children, and they had to say goodbye to their mom way too young.”

Elisabeth admitted that she hadn’t gotten flu shots in the past, either, thinking they were meant for infants and the elderly, but says she will never miss one again. Neither will any of her other family members.

This year’s flu shot is out, and it protects against the respiratory disease’s most prevalent strains, including H1N1. That strain tends to affect young adults, who are less likely to be vaccinated than children or the elderly. While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the vaccine for everyone over the age of 6 months, only 38.5 percent of Douglas County adults got one in 2011, the most recent year the Kansas Department of Health and Environment had data available.

“It’s always good to get it as soon as possible because it takes two weeks to develop immunity from the shot,” said Kathy Colson, clinic supervisor at the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department, which provides flu vaccines for a fee but does not turn anyone down because of an inability to pay. “On the flip side, it’s never too late. Get it when you can. Get it when you think about it. Just get it.”

There are now several kinds of flu vaccines: the standard trivalent shot (protects against three strains), the quadrivalent shot (four strains), a high-dose version for seniors, ones made without eggs or live viruses. The CDC recently began recommending that healthy children between 2 and 8 receive the nasal spray version because it has been found to be more effective than the shot for people in that age range.

“The antibodies that your body develops to protect against the flu decline over time, so it’s important to get the vaccine every single year,” said Audra Derry, pharmacy resident at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Since Sheridan’s death, her family members have been trying to turn their tragic loss into a positive for others. They recently held a blood drive they hope to make an annual event, to recognize the fact that Sheridan used about 55 pints of donor blood during her transfusions.

The day before she was hospitalized in January, Sheridan said she would never go a year without a flu shot again. Now her family wants to prevent others from waiting until it’s too late.

“If not for yourself, do it for the people who love you and who you love,” said Elisabeth Sheridan. “Do it even for strangers walking down the street. You may be able to fight the flu, but some people have underlying health issues and are more susceptible to succumbing to the flu.”

The family’s efforts would likely have pleased Sheridan, who loved ones say was as caring and giving as they come.

“She was definitely the best big sister I could have asked for,” Elisabeth said.