Influencer’s young son dies after flu complication battle followed by thousands
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A Catholic influencer announced Thursday that his 5-year-old son had died after an 11-day battle with a severe case of the flu; this loss became apparent publicly as he shared updates online almost daily.
Paul J. Kim, who shares faith-based content with more than 300,000 followers on InstagramHe said his son Micah died on New Year’s Eve.
In an emotional video posted on Thursday, Kim thanked her supporters for their prayers and asked for privacy while her family suffers.
“We’re so proud of him,” Kim said in the video. “As her father, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart on behalf of my family for praying and lifting us up during this time. This has been and continues to be the hardest thing I have ever experienced in my life.”
Kim first shared the news of Micah’s illness on December 21, when she shared that her son was taken to the hospital by ambulance following a medical emergency.
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The young boy was taken to the hospital by ambulance on December 21. (iStock)
In later updates, Kim said doctors described Micah’s illness as an unusually severe case of flu. Kim later told her followers that Micah was on life support and urged people to pray.
Later updates revealed that the flu infection had become septic and triggered seizures. Kim said doctors at the time described the case as rare and serious.
In an update on December 30, Kim said that her son’s condition had worsened and Micah was in a coma, with doctors and family members trying to give him as much time as possible.
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According to the latest data, the CDC reported 288 pediatric flu deaths in the latest 2024-25 season. (iStock)
Kim’s posts, some showing Micah in the hospital, have been viewed millions of times.
Kim referred to her son as a warrior and “my hero” throughout the ordeal.
In a written Instagram post, he quoted Job 1:21: “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord,” and said Micah had entered “the eternal glory, love, and peace of God.”
He added that although his family is heartbroken, they continue to rely on their faith.
Kim also asked her followers to pray for her family as they learn to “live by faith, not by sight.”
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Kim first shared the news of her son’s illness on December 21. (iStock)
According to the latest data, the CDC reported 288 child deaths in the 2024-25 season.
This was a record high for a non-pandemic year among mostly unvaccinated children, 70% of whom had underlying conditions such as asthma.
In addition, a new strain called “super flu” has emerged this season; This virus, called subclade K, a mutation of influenza A H3N2, is highly contagious and aggressive and is sweeping the country this season.
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It is said that an average of approximately 20,000 children under the age of 5 are hospitalized annually; Those who face the highest risk of death are young children (under 6 months) and the importance of annual vaccination is emphasized. CDC.
Kim did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Angelica Stabile contributed to this report.
