In the small Central Otago town of Alexandra, a mother and teacher aide's ordinary bout of influenza became a race against death when her compromised immune system could not hold the line against a rapidly advancing pneumonia and sepsis. Seen twice by urgent care doctors who sent her home to rest, she deteriorated within days to the point of requiring ECMO life support in Auckland — the most advanced intervention medicine can offer a failing body. Given a ten percent chance of survival last Friday, she has since edged toward stability, a reminder that the distance between the mundane and the c
Alexandra teacher aide fights for life after flu turns critical
A mother of two is on life support with 10% survival odds; her children aged 6 and 10 are separated from her during critical illness.