My grandmother almost died from the Spanish flu. That's why Coronavirus makes me nervous,

[RandySF]

Grandma was a teenager when the Spanish Influenza its way through Appalachia and my mom recounted the story coughing and sneezing blood against the walls. And while medically technology is far more advanced, our health officials are clueless.

[Walleye]

1. Mine too. Eastern Shore of Va.

My mom was just a baby. My grandmother was so sure she was going to die that she gave her baby to a cousin. Fortunately she recovered and my mom grew up with a mother and father.

[MontanaMama]

2. My grandmother's identical twin

died in that outbreak. Pearl grew up without her sister Ruby. Makes me nervous too.

[AnnieBW]

3. My Grandfather

My paternal grandfather was a German soldier in WWI (he was conscripted). He was captured by the French, and spent most of the war in a French POW camp. He told the story of when they released all of the prisoners after the war and sent them home, a lot of them had influenza. Other soldiers (French?) were going through the train looking for dead and sick people, and throwing them off the train even if they were still alive. Grandpap Brill was sick, but he rolled up his collar and pretended like he was asleep, and they left him alone. Fortunately, he survived, or else I wouldn't be here.

[Talitha]

4. My Great Aunt was 12 when had it...

She lived to be 92 and was the spunkiest little woman I've ever known.

For her 90th birthday she wanted to go skydiving!

And she was mad as a wet hornet when Doc said no.

Damn, we miss her so!