Article published September 24, 2009
Swine flu suspected in death
Family says Elmwood grad contracted viral pneumonia
Kimberly 'Kimi' Dora Young initially suffered from a sore throat and was treated last week at a hospital in the Oxford area.
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By JULIE M. McKINNON
BLADE STAFF WRITER
A 2004 Elmwood High School graduate living in southwest Ohio died Wednesday of complications from viral pneumonia after testing positive for so-called swine flu last week, according to the family.
Kimberly "Kimi" Dora Young of Oxford, who would have turned 23 on Sunday, died at University Hospital in Cincinnati. An Ohio Department of Health spokesman could not confirm whether the death was related to the H1N1 virus, commonly called swine flu.
Ms. Young's father, Bryan Young of Wayne, referred questions yesterday to his sister, who declined to give her name.
Initially, her aunt said, Ms. Young suffered from a sore throat and was treated at an Oxford-area hospital, where she was tested for swine flu last Thursday.
The Miami University graduate was feeling better but became sicker Tuesday, when she collapsed, needed oxygen at the hospital, and was flown to Cincinnati, she said.
"It was very sudden," she said. "It happened very quickly."Ohio has had three confirmed deaths related to H1N1, said Kristopher Weiss, a spokesman for the Ohio Department of Health.
It could take some time before an H1N1-related death is reported to the state department, he added.
Born Sept. 27, 1986, in Norwich, Conn., to Bryan and Cathy Young, Ms. Young is survived by her parents and four siblings, all of whom live in Wayne.
A brother, Derrick Young, pre-ceded her in death.
Another brother, Ryan Young, is serving in Kuwait.
Ms. Young graduated in December from Miami University. She studied international studies, journalism, and art, minoring in French and Spanish.
"She had a lot of interests," her aunt said.
Ms. Young was secretary of her senior class at Elmwood, and she was a member of Young Life both at Elmwood and Miami University. Among other activities at Elmwood was being a member of the Spanish Club.
She also was a member of Mount Zion United Brethren Church near Wayne.
Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. tomorrow at Barndt Funeral Home, 121 West South St., Wayne.
The funeral will be 11 a.m. Saturday in the church, 7481 Bays Rd., Portage Township.
The family suggests tributes to the church to help with expenses.
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