A Catholic social media influencer has shared that his five-year-old son died from a severe case of the flu on New Year’s Eve.
In a series of Instagram posts on Jan. 1, Catholic speaker and comedian Paul J. Kim shared that his son, Micah, died on Dec. 31. Micah spent 11 days in the hospital, admitted after a “severe” case of influenza, which led him to developing sepsis and experiencing multiple seizures, Kim said in an Instagram video.
“We’re so proud of him. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart as his dad, on behalf of my family, for all the ways you guys prayed and lifted us up during this time, this incredibly difficult, impossible time for our family,” Kim said through tears in an Instagram video on Jan. 1. “It’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever been through in my life and it continues to be.”
In one of his Jan. 1 updates, Kim asked for privacy for he and his family to mourn and honor Micah’s life.
Kim, as of Jan. 4, had not shared further details on the type of flu Micah contracted, though a new “super flu” strain has been quickly spreading throughout the country. Flu activity was rated as “high” or “very high” in 32 states and jurisdictions, and eight flu-related pediatric deaths were already reported for the 2025-2026 season, as of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s weekly influenza report published on Dec. 30. Five of these deaths were reported the week of Dec. 30.
Flu cases are rising in 32 states. Check maps and see how to stay safe
Bad flu season getting worse: Skyrocketing cases set state record
Paul J. Kim shares gratitude for online support
Kim first shared that Micah was in the hospital on Dec. 21 and continued to post daily updates on his wellbeing, asking for prayers.
Kim, who had 390,000 Instagram followers as of Jan. 4, said in one of his recent videos that he’s been in awe of the outreach during his family’s time of need.
“In the last two weeks, so many people have been following what’s been happening to Micah that my account’s been viewed over 50 million times. What is that? I’m not (Justin) Bieber. I don’t have this kind of pull,” Kim said in a recent video. “Only a small group of people personally know my son, so why all the fuss?”
Over the 11 days Micah was in the hospital, priests, deacons and cardinals prayed for the five-year-old, Kim said.
‘Micah has been very busy already’
In one of his Jan. 1 updates, Kim said before his life ended on Dec. 31, Micah may have been at work in heaven.
Throughout the Kim’s time in the hospital, the family met a woman who was also in the intensive care unit with her two-week-old baby.
“We got to talking about, ‘Have you given baptism to your baby girl?’ And I just encouraged her to think about it, especially given this emergency situation,” Kim shared in a video. “Yesterday, toward the end of Micah’s life, when his bed was being pushed, right at that moment, the mom walked up and she said, ‘Hey, my husband and I have been talking about it, but we’d like for you to baptize our child.'”
In Catholicism, only priests and deacons are allowed to baptize. However, when someone’s life is in immediate danger, anyone can provide a baptism. Kim said he spoke with his spiritual leader and was approved to provide the honor for the family in the hospital, using a bottle of holy water.
“For the first time in my life – I’ve always wanted to do this – I baptized a baby,” Kim said.
What to know about new, ‘super flu’ strain
The new flu strain that is spreading like wildfire is Subclade K (or A(H3N2), J.2.4.1), a mutation of influenza A, according to the World Health Organization.
According to the CDC, symptoms of this flu strain are similar to other influenza viruses:
Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children.
Emergency warning signs of flu complications, which require medical attention right away, according to the CDC, include trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, severe muscle pain, dehydration, seizures, no interaction while awake and a fever or cough that improves then returns or worsens.
Is the flu vaccine effective against the ‘super flu’ virus?
The CDC continues to recommend the seasonal flu vaccine, especially for children and pregnant people. Laboratory and population studies have yet to show that the Subclade K can evade this vaccine, according to Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Catholic influencer shares death of 5-year-old son from ‘severe’ flu
