Come and share your memories of Kyra Conway

I have only done this once before while writing this column for the Nevada Appeal, the first time was the Rios children. I cried the entire time as I put the words in my heart to paper, thinking about the children and congratulating an amazing woman who took the moment to notice a child in need of assistance and made a call that made all the difference.

Now as I sit here and begin this article and ask that each of you indulge me as I fight back tears once again and feel completely helpless in knowing that there are no words of comfort that I can write to easily say what I believe to be a parent's worse nightmare - the loss of a child.

On Tuesday night, 11-year-old Kyra Conway died while en route to UC Davis Medical Center. While her exact cause of death is unknown, she was diagnosed with influenza B and pneumonia.

No explanations are good enough. Trying to breathe hurts, there's complete emptiness inside and tears that will not come because you have cried your heart out. The shock, the numbness, the unbearable grief and the question you want to forever know - WHY?

Norma, Danielle and Mitchell Conway, I can't even imagine what you are going through. Kyra was a bright amazing, funny intelligent little star and of course this loss and profound sadness is beyond words.

My first response in writing this was to ask the community for monetary assistance for the Conway Family. As you have all read, Danielle Conway, Kyra's mother, has been fighting terminal cancer. Norma, Kyra's grandmother, had some fantastic and amazing girlfriends get together and pose for the Calendar Girls to try to assist with the enormous medical expenses for Danielle's continuing treatments.

I sit here shocked and paralyzed at the question I want answered, WHY? I know this family, I know they would want something positive to be said. They are kind, gracious, compassionate and loving, so something must be learned from this loss.

We as parents, grandparents, friends, neighbors and acquaintances need to know that influenza is very difficult to distinguish from other infections on the basis of symptoms alone.

A doctor's exam may be needed to tell whether you have developed the flu or a complication of the flu. There are tests that can determine if you have influenza. If you develop flu-like symptoms and are concerned about your illness and health, especially if you are at high risk for complications of the flu, you should consult your health-care provider immediately.

Those at high risk for complications include people 65 years or older, people with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease, pregnant women and young children.

Sometimes the symptoms are so typical - weakness, fatigue, muscle aches, headaches, fever, sneezing, and maybe a runny nose - that you can't tell what is happening, it seems like a basic cold.

Influenza usually appears in epidemic form and affects many people at once. It affects all age groups, but the highest incidence occurs in school children. The most common complication of influenza is pneumonia. It is hard to distinguish and it can be easily mistaken as something else.

Family and friends are welcome to come in celebration of Kyra Conway's life today at 3 p.m. at the Brewery Arts Center Performance Hall, 449 W. King St., Carson City.

Norma Conway said if you would like to bring flowers, make them purple (Kyra's favorite color) and please bring your wonderful memories to share about her beautiful granddaughter.

Donations may be made to an account for the Conway family at any branch of Greater Nevada Credit Union, account number 868378.

Below I have included informative Web sites and information where to get flu shots.

Nevada Department of Health and Human Services influenza Home site is http://health.nv.gov/

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention site is www.cdc.gov.

Flu shots are available for those interested while there are supplies from Carson City Health and Human Services by calling 887-2190 and Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center at 445-5595.

• To have your information included, contact Kim Riggs at kimriggs@att.net.