Moore Girl, 5, Fighting For Her Life After Contracting Flu

The severity of the flu has become all too real for one family in Moore. Their 5-year-old daughter remained hospitalized, in a coma and fighting for her life. Meanwhile, friends and family have flooded Facebook in support.

Social media can be a powerful tool, and this family used that tool to request the power of prayer.

"She's a very thoughtful little girl. She just read her first book last week. She's just the light of my life and we need God's help to get her back to us," said Leah Waddle, Emmy's mom.

Leah never has to worry if her daughter Emersyn is thinking of others.

"She rolled over Saturday and said, ‘Mommy, I love you' and I said, ‘I love you' and then she told me, ‘You are so beautiful,'" said Leah.

But since that moment on Saturday, Leah asked for Emersyn to be in others' thoughts.

Emmy, as friends know her, had a 107-degree temperature that day and was taken to the hospital. Hours later, Emmy was admitted in critical condition with complications from the flu and strep throat.

"It was just the common flu,” said Leah.

OU Physicians' Dr. Rachel Franklin said she knows that cases like Emmy's are what doctors fear most during flu season.

“The flu can be a very serious illness and in certain circumstances patients can suffer severe complications," said Franklin.

Dr. Franklin said Emmy faces those severe complications. She was in a coma with swelling of the brain. Her lungs, a kidney and her liver were not fully functioning.

"Our hearts are broken and we want her back. More than funds, monetary, we covet prayers," said Leah.

If the number of prayers match the rate of Facebook likes, family and friends said hopes are high. The “Prayers 4 Emmy” page has been up for only hours and gained support by the minute.

Friends were urged to wear pink, Emmy's favorite color, one bright enough to match the smile Leah holds in her thoughts.

"We ask that God heal her and restore her completely. She needs a miracle," said Leah.

The family said they will wait for Emmy's 72-hour mark, which comes at 5 a.m. on Wednesday. That's when doctors will know if the swelling in her brain has subsided or not.

Learn more about how you can help the family.