Ashanti Grinage died from complications of the flu in January — after not receiving a vaccination Girl, 4, Dies of Flu-Related Complications After Not Being Vaccinated This Season A young girl from Texas has died after experiencing complications from the flu, and her family says she did not receive her vaccination this year. According to WFAA, when 4-year-old Ashanti Grinage developed a high fever on Tuesday, January 29, she was diagnosed with influenza after arriving at an emergency room near her home. But while doctors recognized her fever as a sign of the flu, they did not test her for pneumonia, which has similar symptoms such as a fever, a dry cough, headache and weakness. Get push notifications with news, features and more. “My wife called me and said that Ashanti had a high fever, and that she’s taking her to the emergency room because she might have the flu,” her father, Martel Grinage, told the news outlet. “When she went to the doctor, she had pneumonia, and we didn’t know.” Doctors let Ashanti return home once her fever subsided. But on Thursday, her parents noticed her cough had grown worse and she was extremely fatigued, and they rushed her to the emergency room once again. “The doctors told me when I got there, that her lungs were full of pneumonia and that they did the best that they could do,” Grinage, 30, told WFAA. “I told myself when she hears my voice — I know she’s getting up… I was just praying… waiting for her to wake up.” ashanti-brielle-grinage-1 Ashanti Grinage | Credit: Go Fund Me Ashanti would pass away a short time later. “They were just pumping and pumping, and my daughter never got off that table,” her father recalled. “I never even got to say goodbye.” Grinage told ABC 13 that he wished he would have pressed for further testing during their first trip to the emergency room. “I’m mad at myself. I’m mad at everyone,” he said. “I’m mad at the hospital. I’m mad at God. I can’t lie to you.” RELATED: Michigan Man Fights for His Life After Pneumonia Leads to Amputation of His Lung and Legs Relatives of the family have started a GoFundMe page to raise money for Ashanti’s funeral expenses. “Although we are not ready and it is hard to accept we know our family has gained a beautiful angel in heaven,” Ashanti’s aunt, Nereida Olivarez, wrote on the donation page. “[Her parents] are heartbroken to say the least as the life they knew has been shattered into a million pieces.” They have been able to raise nearly $17,000 from 421 donors in four days.<doc-sep>A Texas family is mourning the death of their 4-year-old daughter who died from a flu-related illness last week after testing positive for the virus only days earlier. Ashanti Grinage, who according to family members did not receive the flu vaccination this year, was taken to the emergency room after she developed a 103-degree fever last Tuesday, Fox 4 News reported. According to her father, Ashanti had been showing symptoms of a cold since Sunday but she wasn’t tested for pneumonia when she arrived at the emergency room, and was sent home once her fever subsided. He told ABC 13 that he regrets not pushing for more testing on their first visit. MASSACHUSETTS BOY, 12, DIES OF FLU-RELATED ILLNESS, OFFICIALS SAY “I’m mad at myself. I’m mad at everyone,” Martell Grinage told ABC 13. “I’m mad at the hospital. I’m mad at God. I can’t lie to you.” On Thursday, Ashanti had become lethargic and was taken back to the unidentified hospital, where she was then-diagnosed with pneumonia. Ashanti died later that same day, Fox 4 News reported. Ashanti’s mother was then hospitalized at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center for the virus and pneumonia as well, but has since been released, Martell Grinage told the news outlet. “I feel like I let her down and I lied to her because I told her I’d never let nothing back happen to her,” Martell Grinage told Fox 4 News, of his daughter’s tragic death. “That’s what killing me.” FLU SYMPTOMS AND PREVENTION: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW In the state’s most recent influenza report, dated Feb. 1, officials had reported widespread activity. Officials have already confirmed at least two other flu-related pediatric deaths in the state this season. Ashanti’s family said their child had no underlying health conditions prior to contracting the virus. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 4,400 flu-related hospitalizations have occurred since Oct. 1. The highest rate of hospitalization is among adults older than 65 and children younger than 5. As of Jan. 26, the nation has recorded 24 flu-related pediatric deaths. Physicians and health officials continue to stress that the flu vaccine is the first line of defense against the virus, and that it can help lessen the severity of the illness. The virus typically causes fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, vomiting and diarrhea. While most people recover from the flu without requiring hospitalization, some can develop life-threatening complications. Those most at risk for severe illness include patients 65 and older, people with chronic medical issues, pregnant women and children younger than 5.<doc-sep>A young girl died from the flu and pneumonia only four days after she started exhibiting signs of an illness, according to her heartbroken family. Ashanti Grinich, 4, died on Thursday after he family noted that she had a cold a week earlier on Sunday. Her family rushed the Garland girl to a local emergency room on Tuesday, KTVT reports. She had a 103-degree fever. Ashanti Grinich, 4, died on Thursday after he family noted that she had a cold a week earlier on Sunday 'She wasn't even running fever at this time, we just knew she was very sluggish and she wasn't eating,' said the girl's father, Martell Grinich. 'When I think about my baby, that tears me down man. (crying) That's what I was living for. I told her I wasn't gonna let nothing bad happen to her. I used to preach that to her.' Ashanti's death is the seventh pediatric flu death to be reported in Dallas County this flu season. According to the girl's family, she had not received a flu vaccination. Ashanti's death is the seventh pediatric flu death to be reported in Dallas County this flu season 'We cannot predict the intensity, severity or duration of the flu season from year to year,' said Dr. Christopher Perkins, Director of the Dallas County Health and Human Services. 'The best way to protect yourself and others is to get your seasonal flu shot.' According to the girl's aunt, Ashanti's mother also ended up in the ER with similar symptoms as her daughter. She is currently recovering, Nereida Adrian Olivarez said on GoFundMe. The family has managed to raise just around $14K for funeral expenses. 'From the bottom of my heart which feels so deep, dark, and empty at this time I am asking you to please provide prayers for our family,' Olivarez stated.<doc-sep>
A 4-year-old girl died of complications from the flu and pneumonia just four days after she began to exhibit any signs of illness, according to her devastated family. Ashanti Grinich, of Garland, Texas, became sick with cold-like symptoms following a family church outing on Sunday, Jan. 27, her parents told KTVT. That Tuesday, Ashanti's parents brought her to the emergency room with a 103-degree fever, where she was diagnosed with Influenza type A. Doctors sent her home once her fever subsided and recommend her parents manage her symptoms with over-the-counter medicines. The 4-year-old's mother rushed her back to the emergency room on Thursday, Jan. 31, when she began acting extremely lethargic. Ashanti was diagnosed with pneumonia, a serious lung infection often caused by influenza, and died later that day. "She wasn’t even running fever at this time, we just knew she was very sluggish and she wasn’t eating," Martell Grinich, Ashanti's father, told KTVT. “When I think about my baby, that tears me down man," the bereaved father said through tears. "That’s what I was living for. I told her I wasn’t going to let (anything) bad happen to her." Ashanti's death marks the first reported pediatric flu death in Dallas County of the 2018-2019 flu season. Her family said she had not been vaccinated against the disease. Dr. Christopher Perkins, Director of the Dallas County Health and Human Services, urges those who have not done so already to get the flu vaccine as soon as possible. "We cannot predict the intensity, severity or duration of the flu season from year to year," he said. “The best way to protect yourself and others is to get your seasonal flu shot." Ashanti's aunt, Nereida Olivarez, created a GoFundMe page to help cover the cost of her niece's funeral. It has raised over $11,700 of its $15,000 goal at the time of publishing.