Catholic influencer’s 5-year-old son dies after 11-day battle with flu followed by thousands

A Catholic influencer announced Thursday that his 5-year-old son had died after an 11-day battle with a severe case of the flu, a loss that was publicly revealed as he shared almost daily updates online.

Paul J. Kim, who shares religious content with more than 300,000 followers on Instagram, said his son Micah died on New Year’s Eve.

In an emotional video posted Thursday, Kim thanked her followers for their prayers and asked for privacy while her family mourns.

“We’re so proud of him,” Kim said in the video. “I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart, as your father, on behalf of my family, for all the ways you prayed and encouraged us during this time. It has been the hardest thing I have ever gone through in my life, and it continues to be.”

Kim first shared the news of Micah’s illness on December 21, when she posted that her son was being taken to a hospital by ambulance after a medical emergency.

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In later updates, Kim said doctors described Micah’s illness as an unusually severe case of the flu. Kim later told her followers that Micah had been placed on life support and urged people to pray.

In later updates, he revealed that the flu infection had become septic and caused seizures. At the time, Kim said doctors described the case as rare and serious.

In a Dec. 30 update, Kim said her son’s condition had worsened and Micah was in a coma while doctors and family worked to give him as much time as possible.

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Kim’s posts, some of which showed Micah in the hospital, were viewed millions of times.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Kim referred to her son as a fighter and “my hero.”

In a post written on Instagram, he quoted Job 1:21: “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” and said that Micah had entered into “the glory, love and endless peace of God.”

He added that although his family’s hearts are broken, they continue to trust in their faith.

Kim also asked her followers to pray for her family as they learn “how to live by faith and not by sight.”

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According to recent data, the CDC reported 288 pediatric deaths in the 2024-25 season.

This has been a record for a non-pandemic year, mainly among unvaccinated children, and 70% had underlying conditions such as asthma.

Additionally, a new strain called “superflu” has emerged this season, a mutation of influenza A H3N2 called subclade K. It is highly contagious and aggressive and is sweeping the country this season.

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On average, about 20,000 children under age 5 are said to be hospitalized annually, and the youngest children (under 6 months) are at the highest risk of mortality, highlighting the importance of annual vaccination, according to the CDC.

Kim did not immediately respond to News Digital’s request for comment.

News Digital’s Angelica Stabile contributed to this report.