Brave New Mum Is In A Coma After Catching The Flu

Image: Sarah Hawthorn,Facebook 

Sarah Hawthorn was a healthy new mum-to-be when the flu virus hospitalised her and placed her in a coma last month.

The 33-year-old from Cobram in Victoria's North doesn't know that she has given birth yet, after she was rushed by ambulance into an emergency birth on August 28.

She contracted influenza A, pneumonia and had other complications associated with the virus. Her baby boy was born five weeks premature.

Prior to the emergency birth it's believed that Sarah was turned away several times by her local GP and the Yarrawonga Hospital, when she first started having symptoms.
Ms Hawthorn is now in a critical condition at The Alfred Hospital with her husband Rob by her bedside.

If you want to help Sarah's fight for motherhood, you can contribute to her Go Fund Me page.

Or if you want to send across a message of support you can go here.

The flu virus has been particularly bad this year, with more than 13,000 cases confirmed.
Over the last month 10 people have died from flu complications, including eight-year-old Rosie from Melbourne.

This has sparked health experts to strongly encourage more people to get the flu jab this year, even if it is late in the season. 

Australia currently offers free flu vaccinations to pregnant women.