Two H1N1 Kids Now Show "Miracle" Progress

(CBS)  In this H1N1 pandemic, the emergency room's usually crowded at Children's Hospital in Oklahoma City, CBS News Correspondent Mark Strassmann reports.

The wait can be 8 hours to see an emergency room doctor like Amanda Bogie. Bogie's treating Alexis Rodriguez. She's six, sick and suffering.

Mark Strassmann's first H1N1 Oklahoma City Story
Do Some Areas Have H1N1 Immunity?
CBSNews.com Special Report: The H1N1 Threat

Every exam room here has another flu family, waiting.

"We are swamped with patients," said Dr. Bogie. "We have a volume that has doubled over the last three weeks."

Doubled, to around 160 emergency room patients a day. Eighty percent of that spike is H1N1 patients.

Most cases are mild. But mysteriously, some turn deadly. In the hospital's intensive care unit, three kids with H1N1 are now fighting for their lives.

Carolyn Howard's daughter Leteasha is the biggest surprise. When we first saw her three weeks ago, Lateasha was unconscious, unresponsive to treatment and sinking. Doctors later took her off life-support.

Against all expectations, Leteasha has steadily improved. She even stirs when she hears her mother's voice.

"I'm ready for you to come home too baby," said her mom Carolyn.

"It's a miracle," said Carolyn. "They said they never saw an 8-year-old fight like this."

Natesha Hart's the newest H1N1 patient here -- as critically ill now as Leteasha was 10 days ago.

Three weeks ago her mother saw CBS News's story about Lateasha, a girl much like her Natesha: overweight, and with asthma -- both H1N1 risk factors.

"I was praying to God we didn't go through the same situation," said her mom Michelle. "And here we go. We're pretty much going through the same thing."

Today Natesha lies two rooms away from Lateasha.

Hugh Estlinbaum's son Tony has shown the most progress. "You're doing great son. I'm proud of you," said Hugh. "Very proud of you."

For almost a month, his parents have hovered over their unconscious fifth-grader. Encouraging him, and waiting for the moment when he opened his eyes. Then he did.

By this weekend, Tony could start physical therapy.

When Hugh saw his son's eyes pop back open, he compared it to what it was like when his son was born.

"It's like we're getting him back," he said.

Eight floors below, Dr. Bogie's back with the Rodriguez family. And discovers something about Alexis's mother.

"You are pregnant," Dr. Bogie said.

Pregnant women are another high risk group in this new virus that is full of surprises.

[fairsquare1]

I think that anyone who tests positive for H1N1 should get the medication for free...even if they have insurance. Insurance sometimes only pays a small portion of the cost and it's to the publics benefit for everyone to be treated. This is exactly why more people do not go to the Doctors, or do not get treatment.

[AnnieDanny]

I've read about some adults (Dr. Gupta for one) who got this flu and it was pretty much like regular flu for him. He felt awful for a few days and then it was over. Problem is, you never know who is going to really get socked with it, and who isn't. Dr. Gupta said if you're having breathing problems, then you maybe need to go to the hospital. That's one thing to watch out for. Or, you start to get better and then after a couple of days it gets worse again, that's a bad sign.

[cattlekate1]

What kind of insurance did these people have?

[fabrat1]

I have no insurance and I refuse to go to the hospital when I know I could never pay the bill. So I go to a place that's 42.50 for a doctor visit, that I can do but how do I pay 100.00 for a script of tamaflu??? The Dr. said I have H1N1 so I guess I will just try to survive without the medicine. I've had a fever for 5 days now. This flu really sucks!!!!