Watch CBS News

Emotional Plea from H1N1 Victim's Parents

New numbers bear out just how big a threat the H1N1 virus is to children.

The latest report from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that strain of flu has killed 49 children in the United States. And the numbers are on the rise: At least 19 kids have died in 14 states since the beginning of August. And the "traditional" flu season is just beginning.

One of the latest victims was 14-year-old Chloe Lindsey, of Cisco, Texas. She died Sunday.

Her mother, Tammy Osborne, and stepfather, Tom Osborne, told "Early Show" co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez they can't help but think they should have intervened sooner and more forcefully after Chloe fell ill.

Through tears, Tammy said, "The reason we decided to do this (the interview) and what we think is most important for people to know, even in our time of pain, is that I knew Chloe was sick, and even thought the doctor said she was gonna be OK, and they didn't give her the medicine (Tamiflu, which the Osbornes say wasn't administered until Chloe had taken a severe turn for the worse), I knew she was really sick. And I would have been more demanding in her treatment, and been more of an advocate for her than I was.

"And I think it's important to let people know that, even though we're taught all our lives to trust our doctors, and I do trust my doctor, that nobody knows my child better than me, and that, when I knew something wasn't right, I should have gone and made somebody do something."

After the Osbornes told what happened to Chloe, CBS News Medical Correspondent Dr. Jennifer Ashton reflected on what happened:


Watch CBS News Videos Online
View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.