Michigan boy whose legs were amputated after severe flu case shares story, urges all to get vaccine

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- A young Michigan boy is issuing a warning about the flu, after a case of it changed his whole life.

Now, he's helping others try to avoid what happened to him.

Three years ago, the boy lost both his legs due to complications from the flu.

"Ended up finding out he has strep, flu and he was septic," mother Michele Stevenson said.

All of it led to a severe infection in 7-year-old Kaden Stevenson's bloodstream, forcing doctors to amputate his legs.

But during rehab, specialists helped Stevenson recover and regain his confidence.

And now, three years later, he's turning his experience into a superpower.

With help from the advocacy group Families Fighting Flu, Stevenson's story has been transformed into a comic book called "Kaden Blaze Fights Flu Bug."

"I wanted to help people and keep them safe," Stevenson said.

In the comic, his alter ego is Kaden Blaze, a superhero whose mission is to fight the flu and promote awareness about the virus.

"Families Fighting Flu's mission is to improve awareness and education to help support getting people vaccinated and bringing awareness at how serious the flu can be," Executive Director Michele Slafkosky said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, nationwide, flu activity is currently low, but is on the rise, especially among kids and young adults.

There have been more than a million estimated flu illnesses already this season.

The Stevensons say the book not only encourages people to get their flu shots, but also spreads a message of hope.

"Never give up. That's like the biggest thing. Never give up. Fight, fight, fight, fight,"

Michele Stevenson said.

Doctors say, if you do get the flu, being vaccinated can make your symptoms milder.