PORT ORANGE, Fla — A father of 5 has been placed on dialysis and into a medically induced coma after getting the flu shortly after spending Christmas with his family.
According to ABC affiliate WFTV, Johnny and Frankie Johnson both came down with the flu just one day after Christmas.
Four days later, "Frankie started to get a lot better,” said their son, Jordan Johnson.
His father, however, was not.
“You could just tell something was different this time,” Jordan said.
They rushed Johnny to the ER, and his flue “had progressed into pretty severe pneumonia in both lungs.”
WFTV reports that doctors had to put Johnny in a medically induced coma. Then, they had to put him on dialysis when his kidneys started to fail.
“We’re all just praying for a few good days,” Jordan said -- and they’re not alone.
Randy Stegall and his wife started a GoFundMe page earlier this week to help with medical bills.
The donations have been constantly pouring in and the couple has already $7,610 of their $20,000 goal.
Stegall was Jordan’s basketball coach at Embry-Riddell, and got to know the family, he said.
“Their livelihood depends on (Johnny) being out and being healthy," Stegall said.
Jordan said his mom spends every moment she’s not at work by her husband’s side.
“She would go hungry before she would ever ask anyone for money, but luckily the community is not willing to let that happen,” Jordan said. “They’ve been absolutely amazing.”
WFTV reports that doctors don’t think Johnny had any pre-existing medical conditions, and he could be in the hospital for four to six more months.
Health officials have been urging individuals to get flu vaccines after seeing an increase in flu activity throughout Florida.
