A Randolph family is mourning the loss of their 2-year-old son who died from complications of the flu.
Isais Castillo IV, who died at Morristown Medical Center Jan. 6, was the first pediatric flu death in New Jersey this season.
His mom, Giselle, described his death as “the biggest loss of our lives,” in a public Facebook post.
Isais was taken to the emergency room at Morristown Medical Center first thing in the morning on Monday, Jan. 5 after running a fever of 101.2 degrees the previous day, Giselle told ABC7 Eyewitness News.
He was diagnosed with the flu and his parents were instructed to take him home and give him Tylenol or Motrin for the fever, according to the report.
Although he initially improved that afternoon, he later developed a 105 degree fever and started having seizures, the report says.
Isais died the next morning at Morristown Medical Center.
He never should have been discharged in the first place, Giselle told ABC7.
“Morristown should have never let him go home the morning that we were there,” she said.
Atlantic Health, which owns Morristown Medical Center, did not immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment.
Isais wasn’t vaccinated for the flu. He was scheduled to get a shot later this month, his mom said.
Isais loved playing with his toy dinosaurs and “was the light of every room he was in,” according to an obituary.
“He touched every single one of our hearts with his beautiful smile and unique personality. We will cherish the unconditional love he gave us,” the obituary says.
He is survived by his siblings Olivia, Alejandro, Sofiah and Angelica, according to the obituary.
A GoFundMe campaign created to support the family described Isais as “beloved.”
“There are no words that can ease the pain of losing a child, and during this time of deep grief, the family is navigating overwhelming emotional and practical challenges,” the campaign says.
The GoFundMe campaign, which has raised more than $15,000 as of Wednesday morning, will help ease financial burdens so the family can mourn Isais and begin to heal.
This flu season is shaping up to be a very serious one, with more cases than previous years, according to public health officials and state data.
New Jersey identified 9,288 new flu cases during the week ending Jan. 3, nearly 29% more than during the same week last year.
There have also been 58 flu-related deaths in New Jersey since the fall, most of which were people 65 and older. However, the flu can cause severe illness and death in anyone, including children.
The 2024–2025 flu season had the highest number of pediatric deaths reported since child deaths became nationally notifiable in 2004. Nearly 90% of the 280 children who died were unvaccinated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The flu vaccine is available for everyone 6 months and older.