Port Orange father of 5 ends up in coma, on dialysis after getting flu

PORT ORANGE, Fla. — The Johnson family had a normal Christmas for them, spending it with their family.

Everyone was healthy, until the day after.

Johnny and Frankie Johnson both came down with the flu, their son Jordan said.

Four days later, and Frankie “started to get a lot better,” Jordan said.

His father, however, was not.

“You could just tell something was different this time,” Jordan said.

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They rushed Johnny to the ER, and his flu “had progressed into pretty severe pneumonia in both lungs.”

Doctors had to put Johnny in a medically induced coma. Then, they had to put him on dialysis when his kidneys started to fail.

“We’re all just praying for a few good days,” Jordan said -- and they’re not alone.

Randy Stegall and his wife started a GoFundMe page two days ago, and the donations have already been pouring in, already earning $5,830 of the $20,000 goal.

Stegall was Jordan’s basketball coach at Embry-Riddell, and got to know the family, he said.

“Their livelihood depends on (Johnny) being out and being healthy," Stegall said.

Jordan said his mom spends every moment she’s not at work by her husband’s side.

“She would go hungry before she would ever ask anyone for money, but luckily the community is not willing to let that happen,” Jordan said. “They’ve been absolutely amazing.”

Doctors said they don’t think Johnny had any pre-existing medical conditions, and he could be in the hospital for four to six more months. His son said he did not have a flu shot.

Health officials earlier this week warned this year’s flu season could be one of the worst seen in decades.

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