'Sickest person in NZ': Mum-of-two fights for her life after catching winter flu

An Alexandra mother-of-two who was given just a 10% chance of survival after influenza A developed into severe pneumonia and sepsis is showing the first signs her lungs may be beginning to recover.

Chloe Dowling, 36, remains in an induced coma in Auckland Hospital, where she is being supported by ECMO, life support and dialysis after becoming critically ill last week.

Her cousin Breidi McStay said the family’s latest update brought a small but significant piece of good news.

“Her lungs are showing signs of being able to come back to life again, which is great,” McStay told the Herald today.

“Up until now they haven’t been working at all, so just having that little indication that they are still working is great.”

Chloe’s family has launched a Givealittle page to help cover accommodation, travel and living costs while she undergoes treatment in Auckland. Photo / Supplied

Dowling had also been able to come off several medications, her blood pressure had improved and a temperature, which reached 39.9C, had been brought back into a normal range, McStay said.

But the family remained acutely aware of how serious her condition was.

“Friday was definitely the worst, when she was given a 10% chance of survival. At that point, the medical team were saying it was minute by minute trying to keep her alive, really.”

McStay said the situation had since shifted from being assessed “minute by minute” to “day by day”.

“We’re certainly not out of the woods yet,” she said.

Dowling, who is immunocompromised, had visited Urgent Doctors twice in the days before her condition deteriorated.

She saw two different doctors and was advised on both occasions to return home and rest while recovering from influenza A.

On Thursday she was taken by ambulance to Clyde Hospital, where she was immediately intubated.

She was then flown by helicopter to Dunedin Hospital before being transferred by hospital plane to Auckland to access ECMO, an advanced form of life support used when a patient’s lungs cannot provide enough oxygen.

By Friday, August 21, the family was told her chances of survival were about 10% and she was described as “the sickest person in New Zealand”.

“It’s certainly not the national title anyone wants to aspire to.”

Chloe was transferred from Clyde Hospital to Dunedin and then Auckland, where she is receiving ECMO, dialysis and life support. Photo / Supplied

The sudden deterioration had been difficult for the family to comprehend.

“It’s definitely been a bit of a shock,” McStay said.

“No one in their right mind ever imagines that influenza A is going to turn into a coma, kind of within such a short amount of time - if at all.”

Dowling is originally from Gore but has lived in Alexandra since primary school age.

She works as a teacher aide at Alexandra Primary School, which her two children, aged six and 10, also attend, and has previously volunteered as a firefighter.

McStay said Dowling was an only child and the pair had grown up particularly close, having been born just six weeks apart.

“She’s always been very bubbly, bright, happy - a bit silly almost, which seems a bit funny, but she’s just always been that kind of person that’s tried to make the fun out of every situation.”

McStay said Dowling had always been strongly connected to her family and community.

“Family means everything to her. It always has.”

Her mother, Sandy Gillum, is now in Auckland at her bedside and is expected to remain there for as long as Dowling needs her.

Dowling’s aunt, Rhonda McPherson, has also travelled north to support the family.

With Dowling now stabilised, McStay said the family had begun confronting the possibility that treatment and recovery could take weeks or even months.

Mother of two Chloe Dowling, 36, was hospitalised following after a stint with influenza A lead to her developing severe pneumonia and sepsis. Photo / Supplied

Dowling remained heavily reliant on machines, and the next challenge would be gradually reducing that reliance and allowing her organs to recover.

Gillum is unable to work while in Auckland and faces ongoing accommodation, travel, transport and living expenses.

The family has launched a Givealittle page to help meet those costs and ensure Dowling continues to have relatives beside her.

The family also hopes Dowling’s children will eventually be able to travel to Auckland when she is well enough to see them.

McStay said the family has also been overwhelmed by support from people across Central Otago and Southland.

Supporters have organised care packages, fundraising initiatives and practical help, with one group cutting and preparing firewood to sell as part of a raffle and a fundraising music event being planned in Gore.

“The support has been incredibly humbling and uplifting after what has been an intense few days,” McStay said.

“We are so grateful for every message, every share, every donation and every act of kindness. This is going to be a long road, but knowing people are behind Dowling and our family means more than we can put into words.”

McStay also praised the medical teams who had cared for Dowling in Clyde, Dunedin and Auckland.

The Givealittle page can be found here.

Ben Tomsett is a multimedia journalist based in Dunedin. He joined the Herald in 2023.