By Elizabeth Dinh, CBSDFW.COM
LEWISVILLE (CBSDFW.COM) - When students and staff members in the Lewisville Independent School District return to classes after holiday break, they will be without one of their own. A teenager from Marcus High School in Flower Mound has died after developing complications related to the flu.
Max Schwolert was a golfer at his school, and there is no question that his classmates are saddened by the loss of such a young man. The 17-year-old had been sick with the flu since Christmas Day, while on vacation in Wisconsin. His symptoms worsened when he developed pneumonia, and then it turned into a staph infection.
Schwolert battled the ailments for several days before his family decided to remove life support.
A memorial service was held for the teen in Minnesota on Monday. There is another service planned for Saturday here in North Texas.
Schwolert's father described his son as someone who cared about other people and spent a lot of time at church. He was a kind person who enjoyed helping kids and giving out hugs.
According to DFW doctors, the flu outbreak started a month early and has hit hard. Several different strains of the flu are going around, and doctors encourage everyone to get a flu shot — especially those who are very old, very young, or have a weakened immune system. Flu symptoms are similar to those of a cold — fever, dry cough, extreme tiredness, body aches — but more extreme.
Max Schwolert
