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Father of four fighting for his life after flu puts him in a coma

Efren Garcia is a father of four and a corrections officer for the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office. He's spent the last two months in a hospital bed.

A Houston man is fighting for his life in the Medical Center and may have possible brain damage after serious complications with the flu.

"The last thing he said to me was please don't let me die in this hospital," said Sidney Garcia.

Garcia's been working hard to keep that promise to her husband, but the last two months have been touch and go.

"To realize this is what the flu can do is mind blowing," said Garcia.

Her husband Efren Garcia is a father of four and a corrections officer for the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office. He's spent the last two months in a hospital bed.

"He had a cough," said Garcia.

But that cough before Christmas quickly became worse. It was a rare strain of H1N1 flu that turned to pneumonia.

"I had no idea that the flu could entail this level of debilitating sickness," said Garcia.

Complications forced doctors to induce a coma for eight days. When they tried to bring him back, Efren wasn't the same.

"I don't have words," said Garcia. "My husband was the sole provider, he was the caretaker our whole life, so to see him now almost like a baby it's rough."

Now friends in law enforcement are trying to help the Garcia's with mounting medical bills.

"It's been great to see the outpouring of love and support from the community," said friend Carol Walker.

Officer Garcia's wife is grateful for every bit of kindness coming their way, still hopeful her husband and best friend won't give up his fight.

"I fully believe that he will be able to recover and bounce back to some form of who he was," said Garcia.

If you'd like to help the family you can donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/yz2put-garcia-family-fund

A benefit is planned for March 23rd at the Safari Texas Ranch at 7p.m.

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