Mom Makes "Miracle" H1N1 Recovery

(CBS)  A Florida mom, who was so sick from the H1N1 virus she was put in a medically-induced coma for weeks, has surprised everyone with a remarkable recovery.

Cherie Starling was completely healthy last month, but on a trip with her daughter's drum corps, she began experiencing flu symptoms.

Cherie's condition deteriorated to the point where doctors told her family to expect the worst.

However, Cherie made a turnaround. She and her husband, Wayne Starling, spoke in an exclusive interview with Friday about her illness and recovery.

Cherie, who is currently in the University Community Health's Long-Term Acute Care Hospital in Land O'Lakes, Fla., said she's making progress every day.

"I'm a little labored in my breathing," she said from her hospital bed, "but it's all a process of getting back to normal."

Cherie said emerging from the coma and seeing her friends around her was "like a miracle."

She added, "To hear, still, some of the stories about how sick I was. And, you know, I still don't even really comprehend how sick I was. ... It's just like a month off. ... It's like where did the month go?"

Wayne said the last week seeing his wife make a turnaround "was unbelievable." He added, "You couldn't wipe the smile off my face -- I couldn't do it -- if you tried. ... After going through almost a month of not being able to touch my wife, I just thank the Lord for it."

Wayne said he attributes much of Cherie's recovery to being with family and friends back in Florida.

Cherie was in Louisiana when she fell ill. Wayne said he was surprised when a cough landed his wife in the hospital two days later.

Wayne said he traveled to be at her side as she fought the flu for three weeks. "She was trying to get better," he said. "And it didn't seem like things were going to turn around. And it was very difficult."

But now, Wayne said he "couldn't be happier" with the results.

CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton said Cherie was very lucky her doctors intervened and began treating her for influenza right away -- before test results were returned.

"That is the key," Ashton said. "If you have a clinical suspicion, do not delay. Treat it with Tamiflu."

Ashton added, not only children at camps and schools need to be aware, but parents, as well.

"When we talk about the group that's hardest hit, it is children," Ashton said. "It hits the age group 14 times more often than the adults over the age of 60. But remember, those are statistics, so that doesn't mean there aren't outliers in that age group."

Ashton also suggested these Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) precautions for if a family member becomes infected with H1N1 flu:
1. Designate a sick room.
2. Stay six feet away.
3. If close contact, wear a face mask.
4. Wash hands often.
5. Stay home for 24 hours after fever is gone.

But how do you know if you should see a doctor?

Ashton cited these CDC signs for when it's time to visit your physician:
1. Difficulty breathing.
2. Purple or blue lips.
3. Unable to keep fluids down.
4. Seizures.

[allauque]

I, too, had a similar experience. I was sedated and on a vent a week after I got sick, and spent three weeks in a coma. In addition to the respiratory failure, I had renal failure and woke up with heart problems and blood clots in my left arm and leg. After 7 weeks in the hospital, I did six weeks of OT and PT. I'm pretty much back to normal except for nerve damage in my left hand. Five months after getting sick, though, I'm still on Lopressor to control my heart rate. It's still unreal to think of how ill I was (20% chance of survival). I don't even recognize myself in the pictures.

[cin524]

This story is similar to my own, I contracted the H1N1 virus, while i was pregnant, was put into a coma for a little more than 2 weeks, I almost died a couple of times, and i delivered my daughter at 26 weeks all while in a coma, We are both doing fine (praise God) with a long road to recovery for both of us. This virus is not to be taken lightly. I went from feeling well to being life flighted to a different hospital coughing up blood in 12 hours.We are blessed to still be here! A rapid recovery for you Mrs Starling

[nolongersick]

Parents, Teachers: I heard about a great program called Germy Wormy Germ Smart that teaches kids to understand how germs spread and how to NOT spread germs. My daughter learned it at pre-school. It was so much fun for her, and amazing how quickly the kids learned healthier hygiene habits! The website speaks for itself: www.germywormy.com

[erasmus111]

Now if parents could only learn it, we'd be all set.

[H1N1-Survivor]

It is truly a miracle she survived. I know first hand what they have gone through. In June my husband became very ill from H1N1 and almost died three times. He spent 6 weeks in the ICU at our local hospital and is now in his 4 week in a rehabilitation hospital. He originally was misdiagonsed in the ER and his treatment was delayed by a week. He had sepsis, pneumonia and kidney failure. He has had to learn to walk and eat all over again. Hopefully he will be coming home in a couple of weeks. If you think you have the flu and the doctor tells you don't insist on treatment or go get another opinion immediately. People do die from this flu or they get extremely ill and have their lives and their families lives turned upside down. This has been an extremely difficult time on me and my children.

Miracles do happen. It happened for Mrs. Starling and happened for my husband. Thank you God!!!

[Patriot_0311]

Thanks be to GOD !!!

[Patriot_0311]

Thanks be to GOD !!!

[hologram5]

Mom Makes "Miracle" H1N1 Recovery
Really? IT'S JUST THE FLU. Come on people, this isn't AIDS or CANCER or something like that. And Mrs. Spam, you just graduated from being just a tool to the entire toolbox.

[tmonta67]

Hologram, your smallness is surpassed only by your ignorance. You obviously have never had a real flu, or you would realize how people can (and do) die from it. It has nothing to do with 'flu-like symptoms'. I am a nurse, and the flu is no light matter, especially when it has mutated keeping ahead of vaccines as this one has. I hope you never understand.

[U2rLost]

Do a little research for yourself. JUST the flu can kill anyone anytime, it's all a matter of timing, specific variables at that time, & the individual's medical issues before, during, & after treatment phases. Even post-infection problems can occur, known as a relapse. That's why it's called PRACTICING medicine.

Take it from me, I know from hard-fought experience. In 1957 when the Asian flu (aka swine flu) first struck the US east coast, I was the 2nd person in our large city to be infected. It was far from JUST the flu, which I always had a low immunity against, but otherwise healthy. My parents tried to treat it at home since "no one" knew of the existence of that strain & it hadn't hit the news yet. I almost died, spent 2 weeks in hospital, during which time Mom wore herself out taking care of home & running back & forth to hosp. Within 24 hrs after my release, she went to hosp. via ambulance, actually paralyzed! Her stay was longer. During that time, I had school to catch up on, household & farm chores, & catch rides to hosp. as I could. That's when I learned about the word relapse.

Please, unless you've walked in someone's shoes, do NOT belittle that person. What comes around goes around, you should know.

To everyone else, my apologies for being so verbose. But holo-gram just got on my bad side today.