Inspiration & Impact - A nine-year-old boy, Kaden Stevenson, inspired a comic book superhero named Kaden Blaze, whose power is fighting the flu [1] - The comic book was published by the nonprofit Families Fighting Flu [3] - Kaden's story demonstrates that individuals, even at a young age, can make a difference [4] Kaden's Medical Journey - Kaden experienced multi-organ failure, including kidney, liver, and heart failure, at the age of seven [2] - He underwent amputation of both legs due to sepsis [2] - Kaden's survival was motivated by the loss of another young boy in the hospital [2] Kaden Blaze's Mission - Kaden Blaze distributes vaccines throughout the city to combat the flu virus [3]

Public Health Concerns - An unusual rise in cases of a rare and potentially deadly brain disease (acute necrotizing encephalopathy, A&E) in children has been observed, often triggered by the flu [1][3] - The flu season has been severe, with at least 266 pediatric flu deaths last year, the highest since the 2009 H1N1 pandemic [2] - A&E is a fast-moving illness that primarily affects otherwise healthy children, leading to symptoms like unusual lethargy and neurological complications [3][4] Prevention and Vaccination - Doctors recommend annual flu shots as the primary way to prevent A&E in children [5] - The vast majority of children with A&E and those who died from the flu last season had not been vaccinated [5] - The number of children getting flu shots has been declining over the past decade [6] - Flu shots can prevent the most dangerous complications from the flu, even if they don't guarantee complete immunity [6]