Young Mother Dies A Day After Flu Diagnosis

A Phoenix mother of two died last week from pneumonia a day after being diagnosed with the flu. She was relatively healthy, according to family members.

Alani Joie Murrieta, 20, complained of flu-like symptoms on Sunday and went home early from work, reported KSAZ-TV, a Fox affiliate in Phoenix. Murrieta was taken to the hospital by her mother, where she was diagnosed with the flu and sent home with medication.

"Monday she was still feeling sick, so her sister took her to urgent care, her and her kids. They diagnosed them with the flu, sent her home with flu meds," Murrieta's aunt, Stephanie Gonzales, said.

After her condition worsened, Murrieta took a second trip to the hospital on Tuesday and was diagnosed with pneumonia. Doctors placed her on a ventilator before her heart stopped.

"Her oxygen levels were low. They took an x-ray around 9 that morning, and they told her she had pneumonia, and it kind of just went downhill after that," Gonzales said.

"They were trying to resuscitate her, and they tried for several minutes and they told my sister there was nothing else they could do, that she was gone."

Her family claimed she was healthy before she started complaining of flu-like symptoms and that she had no pre-existing health conditions. She leaves behind her sons, 2-year-old A.J. and 6-month-old Jr.

"Never in a million years would we have thought that we would have lost her that day like this," Gonzales said.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the family cover funeral expenses.

"Alani (Joie) passed away suddenly yesterday afternoon from the flu that turned into pneumonia. Our family is devastated that she is gone. Alani was a beautiful loving mother just 20 years old with two young boys AJ 2 years old and JR 6 months old. We are trying to keep strong and make the necessary arrangements but need help with funds as her passing was completely unexpected. Any donated amount will be appreciated. Thank you," the website read.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 50,000 people die from pneumonia each year in the U.S., and about 1 million people are hospitalized due to the disease.