DAVENPORT -
George O'Neal remains in a H1N1 coma in a long-term care hospital in Davenport, his mother Mary at his bedside every day, hoping he will wake up.
''It's lonely, it is lonely. I just beg people to please, please keep praying for my son, keep lifting him up, don't forget him'', Mary Berardi said in an interview with News 8 Thursday at Specialty Select Hospital in Davenport.
It's been three months since the over-the-road truck driver from Muscatine fell ill from H1N1 in Denver. Airlifted back to the Quad Cities last month, George has been running a fever the past four days. Doctors are doing tests. Mary at his side.
''Where else would I be? He's my kid. Yes, he's 40, but he's still my child. I greet him and I say good morning George, and I do expect him to answer me. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but someday, he will answer me.''
George O'Neal has had asthma since he was 9 months old. Mary says anyone in a high risk category should take the H1N1 virus very, very seriously.
''I'm confounded by something that is this destructive today in this nation, it's a vicious disease, it's terrible. Yes, there are people recovering, but if you have the least bit of bronchial problem, this thing is going to attack that weak point. They say don't be afraid of H1N1, I'm afraid, I'm very afraid''.
''It's lonely, it is lonely. I just beg people to please, please keep praying for my son, keep lifting him up, don't forget him'', Mary Berardi said in an interview with News 8 Thursday at Specialty Select Hospital in Davenport.
It's been three months since the over-the-road truck driver from Muscatine fell ill from H1N1 in Denver. Airlifted back to the Quad Cities last month, George has been running a fever the past four days. Doctors are doing tests. Mary at his side.
''Where else would I be? He's my kid. Yes, he's 40, but he's still my child. I greet him and I say good morning George, and I do expect him to answer me. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but someday, he will answer me.''
George O'Neal has had asthma since he was 9 months old. Mary says anyone in a high risk category should take the H1N1 virus very, very seriously.
''I'm confounded by something that is this destructive today in this nation, it's a vicious disease, it's terrible. Yes, there are people recovering, but if you have the least bit of bronchial problem, this thing is going to attack that weak point. They say don't be afraid of H1N1, I'm afraid, I'm very afraid''.
