Christopher Matherne, 17, died of COVID-19 on Friday after suffering from complications and being placed on a ventilator and ECMO machine for more than a month
A Louisiana boy died from COVID-19 a month after his parents had to wait five days to get him to hospital because 911 lines were knocked out by Hurricane Ida.
Christopher Matherne's parents were forced to monitor his vital signs using a cell phone app before they were finally able to get through to 911.
The 17-year-old was eventually rushed to hospital and died on Friday after almost a month on a ventilator in a medically induced coma.
Hurricane Ida smashed into the state in late August, causing mass destruction and leaving hospitals with structural damage.
Powerlines were knocked down in strong winds, and 911 lines were inoperable for several days.
Due to his illness, his family couldn't evacuate their home in Houma, Louisiana.
The family started to check Christopher's vital signs using their cell phones, according to KOCO News 5.
'His health deteriorated within a couple of days,' his mother Kristi told WDSU 6. 'We were scared we were going to lose him on the sofa.'
Five days after the Category Four storm hit Louisiana, the Mathernes were able to call 911.
Christopher was transported to Thibodaux Regional Medical Center before being transferred to the Children's Hospital New Orleans after a drop in his oxygen levels, according go the GoFundMe set up by a family friend.
Christopher went on to spend five days on a BiPAP machine, which supplies pressurized air to the lungs.
Eventually he went on a ventilator and an ECMO machine, which provides prolonged cardiac and respiratory support when the heart and lungs are unable to provide adequate support to sustain life.
Christopher spent 24 days on the ECMO machine in a medically induced coma as his condition worsened.
Christopher (pictured second to left) was transported to Children's Hospital New Orleans five days after Category 4 storm Hurricane Ida hit Louisiana. The family (pictured)
