8-Year-Old Girl’s Sudden Death Not H1N1

The H1N1 strain of flu did not kill 8-year-old Savannah McCann, according to the New Mexico Department of Heath. While the family awaits the official cause of death from the medical examiner, McCann?s parents said, whatever virus rapidly attacked Savannah, they never expected it to kill their seemingly healthy little girl.

“I am devastated and heartbroken,? Melanie McCann, Savannah?s mother, said. ?I know that nothing’s going to bring her back, so I want to just embrace everything lovely about her and hold onto that.”

Melanie said she was holding Savannah in her arms Saturday morning when she suddenly died after watching a movie in bed.

“She sat up and said, “I can’t breathe, I need the inhaler, I can’t breathe,?? Melanie said. “She actually said, ‘I feel like I’m dying.? It just got more and more shallow as the seconds went on. I believe that she took her last breath at that point.”

The week prior, the third grader was sent home from school at Desert Hills Elementary.

“She had cold or flu-like symptoms but it was not to the point where I was alarmed,? Melanie said.

The blonde-haired, blue-eyed little girl even sang and recorded a happy birthday wish with her younger brothers for their Uncle Brian just days before Savannah died, Melanie said. She was playing, watching movies, and doing things she normally did at home, Melanie said.

?I know my children, and I know when they were sick, and I’ve taken them to doctors before when I thought it was necessary, and it just wasn’t that situation,” Melanie said. ?I think she is the tragic case.?

After Savannah died, a rapid test was conducted that proved she had influenza, but there is no indication from lab results to reveal what strain of influenza it was, Chris Minnick, spokesperson for the New Mexico Dept. of Health, said.

“Nobody should blame the family for this unfortunate situation,? Minnick said. ?The flu can be, as we know and if that ends up being the cause of death, can be a deadly virus and it kills 35,000 people every year.”

Savannah?s death is a horrific reality check for all parents, warning them about severe complications that could evolve from simple flu-like symptoms, Melanie said.

“I don?t know if ever in my life I will know why this happened, but my family and I believe that she was called for something else; she was called for a greater job,? Melanie said. ?She’ll always be our angel.”

Savannah?s visitation is Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the First Assembly of God in Las Cruces, followed by a memorial service Saturday at noon.