Friends remember victim of swine flu

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (WDTN) - Friends remembered a 26-year-old woman who died after contracting the H1N1 virus, as a kind, selfless woman.

They said Tasha Robinson was a single mother, who left behind a six-year-old daughter.

Corinna Arthur, Robinson's best friend of eight years said she was right by her friend's side when she first complained of feeling sick. Robinson was a waitress at Red Lobster and Wendy's in Springfield.

"We were working and she was feeling kinda achy, stuff nose, stuff like that," Arthur said. "She wanted to go to the hospital."

Tasha Robinson was given the rapid test for influenza at the hospital. Health officials said the test came back negative. She was treated for symptoms of bronchitis and an upper respiratory illness. Officials said 40 percent of the tests come back as false negatives.

"If the test comes back negative and they're out-patients, they'll be treated according to the symptoms they present at the hospital," said Clark County's health commissioner Charles Patterson.

Friends said in the last days before her death Robinson appeared to have a lot of trouble breathing.  Three days later she was dead.

"Oh God, she was wonderful. I have never met anybody in my whole life who was as kind, selfless, generous, she would do anything for anybody," said Arthur.

The healthy mom would not have qualified to receive the H1N1 vaccine yet, but health commissioners stressed, it was important that everyone who is eligible show up to get the vaccine.

"There are people, that because of CDC rules, we cannot give the vaccine to like those 65 and over. Since we can't give it to those people, we're asking younger people to step forward and get the vaccine and stop spread of disease," said Patterson.

Health officials said the H1N1 virus was widespread in every community. Of the thousands of tests sent to the state health labs, only one turned out to be the seasonal flu last week.

"Recently every single positive influenza test they have has all been H1N1 related," said Patterson.

Friends are now setting up a trust fund for the daughter left behind by Tasha Robinson. If you would like to help, you can contribute to the "Rene Doughman fund". It will be set up at the Wright-Patt Credit Union on Thursday. You can also drop off money at the Red Lobster on West First Street in Springfield. Friends were taking up a collection to help pay for Robinson's funeral.