What began as a mild fever and cough quickly spiraled into a life-or-death emergency for 3-year-old Landon. Within just 36 hours of being diagnosed with the flu, he was on life support.
When Prairieville mom Crystal Sawyer took her son to the doctor on December 13, 2024, she expected what many parents do during flu season, a simple case of Influenza A. Landon had a 101.5 fever and a dry cough, but otherwise seemed himself.
“I can remember thinking, Wow, we made it to mid-December and no one has gotten the flu. I’ll put it on my list to do,” Crystal recalls about the flu shot. “Sadly, all three of my kids got Flu A within that next week and had not been vaccinated at that time.”
A Rapid Decline
At first, Landon’s flu seemed manageable. He was still eating snacks and laughing with his dad, David, even when his fever spiked. But by the next evening, his color looked off, and Crystal, who is a nurse, noticed his oxygen levels plummeting.
“I checked his pulse ox and it read 75. I thought, That can’t be right — he looks better than that. But when I checked his siblings, they were both at 98. That’s when I knew something was seriously wrong.”
She rushed Landon to urgent care, where his condition quickly deteriorated. Within hours, he was intubated at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital. Tests showed he had developed a severe lung infection secondary to the flu.
“It happened so fast,” Crystal says. “From being diagnosed Friday afternoon to being on a ventilator Saturday night. It was that quick.”
45 Days in the Fight of His Life
Landon’s condition worsened so quickly that within hours of arriving at Children’s Hospital, he was admitted to the PICU and placed on a ventilator. Despite every effort, his lungs continued to fail.
By Sunday night, just two days after his flu diagnosis, he was transported to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where he remained until January 27. Landon spent 45 days in the hospital, including 26 days on a ventilator and 20 days on ECMO, a heart-lung machine that kept him alive when his lungs could no longer function.
“There were moments when we weren’t sure he’d make it,” Crystal remembers. “I can’t tell you how many times I was praying on the floor.”
By the grace of God and the coordinated care of the teams at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital and Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Landon survived.
Living With the Aftermath
Today, Landon is back to being an active preschooler. He loves to run and play, though he sometimes gets short of breath and requires careful monitoring whenever he catches a cold.
His biggest long-term complication is bronchiectasis, permanent lung damage that requires daily vest therapy to help keep his lungs clear. Still, Crystal counts her blessings.
“Neurologically, he’s exactly where he should be for his age. He hasn’t missed a beat. We are very blessed,” she says.
A Mother’s Message: Don’t Wait
Crystal wants other parents to learn from her family’s experience.
“It wasn’t that we chose not to vaccinate. Life just got busy,” she says. “This wasn’t just a bad case of the flu. It was life-changing for Landon and traumatic for all of us.”
She now makes sure her children receive the flu shot early every year.
“Maybe your child won’t get the flu. Maybe it won’t be you. But what about when it is? Protect your kids. Protect kids like Landon. Get the flu vaccine early.”
A relationship with your pediatrician can help you navigate flu season and stay on top of vaccines. Connect with an exceptional pediatrician near you:
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Find a pediatric provider in Baton Rouge.
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Find a pediatric provider in Acadiana.
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Find a pediatric provider in Greater Jackson.
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Find a pediatric provider in Northeast Louisiana.
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Find a pediatric provider in Bogalusa.
